Israeli authorities arrested four Palestinian fishermen off the Mediterranean coast of Gaza on Monday, seizing their fishing boat.
The Israeli navy has frequently seized vessels in the area, claiming they violated restrictions imposed by Israel.
This issue is crucial for the thousands living in the blockaded Palestinian territory, where fishing in the Mediterranean Sea serves as one of the few economic lifelines.
Currently, Israel allows fishing only within a limited zone extending between six and 15 nautical miles off the Gaza coast.
Last year witnessed 23 boat confiscations, the highest number since 2018, according to the Palestinian non-governmental group Al Mezan.
While Israel justifies the blockade as necessary to protect against attacks from the militant group Hamas, Palestinians argue that it has severely impacted Gaza’s economy and worsened the plight of its people
