By NNN-WAFA,
Gaza : Israeli naval vessels fired on unarmed Palestinian fishing boats and international human rights workers off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the Free Gaza Movement said.
The fishing boats are several miles off the coast of Gaza City, in Palestinian territorial waters, it said.
The unarmed boats went to sea at dawn Monday in an attempt to fish in their own waters. Six international human rights workers from five different countries — Italy, Denmark, Greece, Scotland and the United States — accompanied the fishermen in the hope that their presence would deter the Israeli military from firing on the fishermen.
In the past, the Israeli military has shot and killed unarmed Palestinian fishermen for trying to fish in their own waters.
The Free Gaza Movement, which consists of international human rights activists, made an attempt to free Gaza symbolically by entering Gaza at sea with two small boats last week.
Some of the human rights activists stayed on in Gaza to document and assist the Palestinian fishermen in the hope that their presence will prevent attacks.