Last update - 00:00 11/03/2007
Palestinians: IDF fire wounds two fishermen near Rafah shore
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
According to Palestinian reports, two fishermen from Gaza were wounded Sunday morning from Israel Defense Forces fire near the Rafah shore.
According to IDF sources, Saturday night three small Palestinian motor boats were seen approaching the Egyptian shore and joining an Egyptian boat.
Sunday morning, the army said, the boats tried to return to the Gaza Strip, and a navy boat fired warning shots to stop them from approaching. What the boats did not stop, the navy boat began firing at the boats directly and wounded two Palestinians.
Despite the fire, the boats were able to make it to shore, and IDF sources said the boats probably smuggled something into Gaza.
Gaza sources told the Ma'an news agency that the two wounded Palestinians are Gaza residents.
They named the injured as Sami al-Kouka, who was wounded in his left arm, which was severed, and Ali Ibrahim al-Kouka, who sustained shrapnel wounds to his entire body.
According to the report, the two were fishing near the Rafah shore when the navy boat opened direct fire at them and destroyed their boat.