Israel is to reopen the fishing zone off the coast of Gaza to 10 nautical miles, local media reported on Tuesday, after it closed the entire waterway to Palestinian fishermen.
Israel’s military had closed the waters off of the territory it blockades in response to balloons that Palestinians attach flaming rags to and then fly into Israeli territory. It was a rare move as Israel usually restricts the zone but never fully closes it.
The flaming balloons have caused Israeli farmland to set on fire. Israel has condemned the balloons as the cause of millions of dollars worth of damage while Palestinians say it is another method they use to protest the 12-year blockade that has left the territory on the brink of collapse.