Gaza fisherman killed at sea by Egyptian fire: union

People ride boats as Palestinians prepare to sail a ship toward Europe aiming to break Israel's maritime blockade on Gaza, Tuesday. (Reuters)

• The union said in a statement that he had been killed by “Egyptian fire”
• A fisherman who had been in the same area said Egyptian forces had opened fire on Abu Awad’s boat when it apparently approached or crossed the border

GAZA CITY: A Palestinian fisherman was killed at sea by Egyptian fire near the Gaza border on Wednesday, the fishermen’s union said.
The health ministry in Gaza confirmed that Mustafa Abu Awda, 32, had died but did not give further details.
The union said in a statement that he had been killed by “Egyptian fire.”
A fisherman who had been in the same area said Egyptian forces had opened fire on Abu Awad’s boat when it apparently approached or crossed the border Wednesday afternoon.
The union announced a one-day strike in protest at the killing.
The heavily populated Gaza Strip is wedged between Egypt, the Mediterranean and Israel, which imposes strict limits on how far Gaza fishermen can venture out to sea.
The enclave’s land border with Egypt had been largely sealed in recent years, but reopened in May as relations improved between the Egyptian government and Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas.