Israeli navy opened fire and injured two Palestinian fishermen after seizing their boats off Gaza shore on Monday morning, May 1, 2023.

Zakaria Bakr, head of the Fishermen Union Committees in Gaza, reported that Israeli forces shot two fishermen with rubber-coated metal bullets.

Bakr pointed out that the fishermen, identified as Khaldoun and Rajab Abu Riyala, sustained injuries, one in the head, while sailing near the Al-Sudanyia area, west of Gaza City.

According to Palestinian reports, the Israeli occupation navy attacked Palestinian fishermen 30 times per month in 2022.

The Palestinian figures clearly showed that Israel systematically targets Palestinian fishermen. The violations against Gaza fishermen included shooting attacks, arrests, confiscations, and damages.

Under the Israeli blockade, more than 5000 Palestinians are working in the fishing sector. They face semi-daily attacks and violations by Israeli gunboats controlling the sea.

The Israeli air, land, and sea blockade imposed since 2006 banned the Palestinian fishermen in Gaza from buying items needed to repair fishing boats. These items included motors, propellers, fiberglass, and many others.

Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2006. However, Israel still controls every aspect of the Palestinians’ lives in the besieged enclave.