Israel extends authorized fishing zone off Gaza Strip
Audio 01:04
The Gaza Strip fishing zone, controlled by Israel, is extensive.
It goes from nine to twelve nautical miles.
Emmanuel DUNAND AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In the Middle East, nearly two months after the end of the clashes between Israel and Hamas, the Hebrew state is slightly loosening the grip on Gaza.
The Palestinian enclave, under Israeli-Egyptian blockade, is once again authorized to import more products, such as medical equipment, for example.
The Gaza Strip fishing zone, controlled by Israel, is also extensive.
It goes from nine to twelve nautical miles.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
Off Gaza, the maritime zone is enlarged, but the fishing is meager, deplores Zakria Bakr, president of the fishermen's union: "
Israel allows us to go out to sea, but it is too late, the fishing season is over. .
All of this is just communication.
"
After May and June, we will now have to wait for the next season in September and October, explains this former fisherman: “
12 nautical miles is not enough.
There are too many fishermen to be able to live off their work in such a small maritime area.
This area is barely viable for half of them
”.
Some 4,000 fishermen in Gaza.
All of them sail on old boats.
“
We are told about 12 nautical miles,”
continues the fisherman, “
but in reality, our boats are not even powerful enough to reach this distance.
Since 2006, Israel has prohibited us from importing fishing equipment, engines and spare parts for our vessels.
"
Everywhere else in the world, fishing grounds extend over 200 nautical miles, recalls, annoyed, the head of the Gaza fishermen's union.
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Gaza
Israel
Agriculture and Fishing