Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Israeli naval forces opened heavy gunfire on Saturday morning at the boats of Gaza fishermen, causing no damages or injuries, witnesses and security sources said.

    The witnesses said that ten fishing boats, carrying fishermen and nine foreign activists, who came to Gaza on the two "Free Gaza" vessels on August 23, sailed out for a fishing trip in Gaza shores.

    Security sources in Hamas government that rules the Gaza Strip said that while the ten small fishing boats were sailing into Gaza shores, Israeli naval gunships, opened intensive gunfire at them. No injuries were reported.

    Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year, Israel closed all the border crossing points between Gaza and Israel, and has also closed the sea for fishing.

    Nine foreign activists, including the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, decided to stay in Gaza to express solidarity to the 1.5 million Palestinians who have been under the Israeli siege for about 15 months.

    The nine activists, who sailed from Cyprus to Gaza with 35 other foreign activists and Palestinian refugees on the two "Free Gaza" boats on August 23, decided to stay in the region for several days.

    But when they decided to return home through Israel, their entrance from Gaza to Israel and Egypt was denied.

    Jamal al-Khodary, head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege said that another boat carrying activists and members of the European parliament is due to arrive in Gaza beach on September 22.

    He said that the nine foreign activists, who are stuck in Gaza, can return home on that boat.