Gaza fisherman dies of wounds by Israeli fire

GAZA CITY — A Palestinian fisherman in the Gaza Strip died on Sunday from Israeli gunshot wounds sustained last month, an official in the outgoing Hamas-run health ministry said.

“Fisherman Imad Shukri Salem, 52, died this morning from wounds he sustained two weeks ago,” spokesman Ashraf Al Qudra told AFP, saying troops on a naval vessel fired at him while he was fishing.

Salem sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and underwent surgery but his condition deteriorated, he said.

Nizar Aayesh, head of Gaza’s fishermen’s union, said troops had arrested three fisherman at sea on Saturday night and confiscated their boat.

Israel does not allow Gaza fishermen to venture more than six nautical miles from shore, and its naval patrol boats have been known to fire on those who broach that limit.