Israel eases restrictions on Gaza fishermen: official

The Israeli authorities informed the Palestinian side that it decided to ease the Israeli security restrictions imposed on fishermen off the Gaza Strip coast starting from Monday, a senior official announced on Sunday.

Nizzar Ayyash, chairman of the Gaza Fishermen Association, told Xinhua that his association was informed that fishermen in the Gaza Strip can go fishing starting from Monday after being banned for one week.

"Israel decided to expand the allowed fishing area to 6 nautical miles in northern Gaza Strip, 12 miles in central Gaza Strip and 15 miles in southern Gaza Strip, up to the Egyptian maritime border," he said.

Israel had banned Gaza Strip fishermen from fishing after a rocket was fired from Gaza into central Israel and wounded seven Israelis in northern Tel Aviv.

Before banning fishing in Gaza, Israel allowed fishermen to go fishing in an area of 6 nautical miles only. Israel has been imposing a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip and also on its fishermen since 2007.