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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Israel Closes Gaza Fishing Zone

Flame and smoke are seen during an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Israel said Monday it is closing the fishing zone off the already blockaded Gaza Strip, preventing trawlers from going out to sea.

The move comes after the Israeli army said five rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel overnight, two of which were intercepted by its air defenses.

"The fishing zone in the Gaza Strip would be completely closed until further notice," said COGAT, the Israeli military body that administers civilian affairs in Palestinian territories including the occupied West Bank.

The measure was "due to the continuation of the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip towards the State of Israel during the night", it said in a statement.

Israel would hold Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, "accountable for all that is done in and from the Gaza Strip towards Israel", COGAT said.

Hamas "will bear the consequences for the violence committed against the citizens" of Israel, it said.

Salvos of rockets were also fired at Israel from Gaza overnight Friday and again overnight Saturday, prompting Israel to carry out retaliatory airstrikes on the coastal enclave.

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