Israel bulldozers destroy farmland in the besieged Gaza Strip

Israel bulldozers destroy farmland in the besieged Gaza Strip
It comes as the Israeli navy on Monday shot live bullets and used water cannons against Palestinian fishermen in boats around three nautical miles from land in Gaza.
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A sizeable area of agricultural land was destroyed [Ahmed Zakot/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty-file photo]

Israel sent bulldozers into the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday, the same day Palestinian fishermen in the enclave were attacked by naval ships.

The bulldozers entered "several dozens of meters" inside Gaza, near the northern city of Beit Lahia, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

A sizeable area of farmland was destroyed, with the Israel forces creating "dirt hills" as they launched smoke grenades for cover.

Israeli navy ships on Monday fire live rounds and used water cannons against Palestinian fishermen in boats around three nautical miles from the Gaza coast.

The fishermen had no choice but to stop work and head back to shore for their own safety.

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It was not clear whether there were any casualties from the attack.

Palestinian fishermen are routinely attacked by the Israeli military and bulldozers often level land near Beit Lahia.

Though Israel officially ended its permanent presence in Gaza in 2005, it still implements a crushing siege on the impoverished enclave, which is home to some two million Palestinians.

With poverty and joblessness at dizzying heights, Israel commonly carries out fatal attacks on Gaza.

In May, Israel killed 256 Palestinians in a deadly 11-day bombing campaign.

Meanwhile, 13 people were killed in Israel by rocket fire from Hamas and other Gaza militants.