Egyptian naval forces late Monday opened fire on a Palestinian fishing boat off the coast of the southern Gaza Strip, injuring a fisherman from Rafah. Palestinian sources identified the fisherman as Muhammad al-Bardawil.

The shooting came after two other Gazan fishermen were shot and injured by Israeli forces earlier in the day for allegedly leaving the designated fishing zone.

Last week, a Gazan fishing boat was damaged when Egyptian gunboats fired on it, although no injuries were reported.
Egypt upholds an Israeli military blockade on Gaza, keeping borders largely closed and limiting imports, exports, and the freedom of movement of its residents.

On the land border, the Egyptian government has actively destroyed smuggling tunnels since the military coup in the summer of 2013, and is creating a kilometer-wide buffer zone.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians on land and at sea. March alone witnessed a total of 35 incidents of shootings, incursions into the coastal enclave, and arrests, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. MAAN