Israeli shoot Palestinian sailing off Gaza coast

Israeli naval forces shot and injured a Palestinian teenager off the coast of the besieged Gaza strip on Thursday evening.

Palestinian sources told Maan News Agency that an unnamed 19-year-old Palestinian teenager was injured when Israeli naval forces fired on his boat off the coast of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza strip.

Medical sources say that the teenager was left with an injured leg. 

An Israeli army spokesperson said they were looking into reports. 

In May, Israel expanded the Gaza fishing zone to nine nautical miles, as opposed to six nautical miles.

The fishing zone expansion only took place in the southern part of the territory, while Israel continues with severe restrictions on the Gazan fishing industry in the north.

Prior to Israel's blockade, there was a thriving fishing sector in Gaza, with fresh produce from the area sold across Israel and the West Bank.

But Israeli restrictions on Gaza have all but crippled the fishing industry, and 95 percent of fishermen now live below the poverty line, according to rights group B'Tselem.

In 2016, Israel's military detained 113 fishermen and the navy routinely opens fire at fishermen to enforce the limited fishing zone.

Due to the blockade, it is near impossible to obtain the parts needed to maintain fishing vessels, and since 2000 the number of fishermen has reduced by over half.