Israel navy \'opens fire at Gaza fishing boat\'

Israel's navy fired live ammunition at a fishing boat in the Gaza Strip on Monday, witnesses said. Several shells were fired into open areas off the Gaza coast, locals told Ma'an. An Israeli military spokeswoman said that a fishing boat had deviated from the designated fishing area, and after failing to respond to orders to return, warning shots were fired. No hits were identified and the boat returned to the designated fishing area, she added. Under Israel's maritime blockade, Palestinians are forbidden from fishing more than three nautical miles from the coast. During the Oslo accords negotiators had agreed on 20 nautical miles of fishing access along Gaza's coastline. In December, the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said Israel has detained 40 fishermen, injured five others and seized nine boats since the start of 2011.