Israeli Navy Kills Palestinian in Gaza
03/12/2005| IslamWeb
An Israeli navy vessel opened fire on a Palestinian boat off the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing a 22-year-old man, Palestinian medics said.
The medics said the Palestinian killed in the incident had been on a fishing trip.
Israel's navy has largely blockaded Gaza's coast during much of a five-year-old Palestinian uprising, forcing Palestinian boats to stay close to shore.
Israel says it is a security measure to prevent weapons smuggling by sea and attacks on Israelis. Palestinians say it is collective punishment that has crippled Gaza's fishing industry.
Most of the restrictions have remained in place despite Israel's Gaza pullout in September.
11 Palestinian protesters hurt
Eleven Palestinians were wounded yesterday when clashes erupted with Israeli soldiers during protests against Israel's controversial West Bank barrier, medics and witnesses said. They were hurt when troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse two demonstrations against the massive construction in the villages of Abud and Bilin, near the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Among those hurt was an AFP photographer, who was hit on the finger by a rubber bullet and received first aid from medics in Abud.
Hundreds of Palestinians and foreign peace activists demonstrate every Friday against the barrier, particularly in Beilin, which has become the centre of the protests.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, vowed to end the violence that marred the primary elections across the Palestinian territories and promised "security and transparency" in upcoming parliamentary polls.
Earlier this week, results in the Gaza Strip were nullified after gunmen attacked polling stations.
Abbas was in Rome to meet top Italian officials. He met Premier Silvio Berlusconi following an hour-long discussion with Ciampi at the Quirinale presidential palace.
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