Israeli Offensive Grounds Gaza Fishermen

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"During five years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Gaza's fishing boats were routinely grounded by the Israeli military. So when Israel withdraw from Gaza last year and relaxed its coastal restrictions, the fishermen here gleefully took to the sea to support their families.

But a new Israeli offensive that started last week has forced the small fishing fleet here back to shore at the height of the summer season, leaving many fisherman scrambling to survive."

<snip>

"Israel, which maintained control of Gaza's coast even after its pullout last year, sealed off the sea with naval gunboats after a soldier was captured in a June 25 militant raid on an army post.

The army says the coastal closure is crucial to stopping the militants from smuggling the soldier into nearby Egypt by boat.

It has also stranded about 3,000 Palestinian fisherman on shore for 10 days, costing the local economy $250,000 in losses, said Tarek Saker, director general of fisheries at the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/06/AR2006070600715.html