Israeli forces stage limited incursion into Gaza

Israeli forces staged on Saturday a limited incursion into the Gaza Strip, eyewitnesses have said.

Four Israeli military bulldozers stationed near the border pushed a few meters into farmland in Gaza's northern Beit Lahia town, eyewitnesses told The Anadolu Agency.

The bulldozers scooped a large tract of farmland before turning back, they added.

Saturday's incursion comes despite an August 26 cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian factions.

The Egypt-brokered, open-ended cease-fire ended a seven-week Israeli military onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli offensive, which began on July 7, left 2,160 Palestinians – the vast majority of them civilians – dead and more than 11,000 injured.

Palestinian fisherman injured by Israeli gunfire

Meanwhile, a Palestinian fisherman was seriously injured Saturday when Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

"A fisherman sustained serious injuries when Israeli gunboats opened fire on fishing boats off the coast of the southern Rafah city," Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra told The Anadolu Agency.

Nizar Ayyash, head of Gaza's Palestinian Fishermen's Union, has confirmed the attack.

Israeli forces "shot at Palestinian fishing boats under the pretext that they go beyond fishing space specified for them," he said.

He said that some fishing boasts sustained damage in the Israeli shooting.

In late August, Israel allowed Palestinian fishermen to ply their trade up to six nautical miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip – as opposed to three miles previously.

According to Ayyash, some 50,000 Gazans earn their living from the fishing business.

He estimated their combined losses during Israel's recent war at more than $6 million.

Ever since Hamas – which Israel deems a "terrorist" organization – won the 2006 legislative polls, Israel has imposed a tight land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Hamas condemns UN 'negligence' of Gaza reconstruction

A senior Hamas leader on Friday accused the United Nations of "negligence" with regards to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip following last summer's Israeli onslaught.

"The UN does not care about the pain and suffering of nearly two million [Gazan] citizens," Khalil al-Hayya said during the weekly Friday sermon.

"Five months have passed since the war has ended, and the reconstruction has yet to start," he said. "The UN's mechanism hinders any chance for genuine reconstruction in Gaza. It is only an additional blockade."

The Hamas leader warned that further delays in the reconstruction effort could lead to a "full-blown uprising that could affect all parties involved."

"The amount of cement that has entered Gaza over the past six months does not satisfy Gaza's needs for one day," he said.

In October, Israel allowed the entry of a limited amount of building supplies into the Gaza Strip as per an agreement between Israel, the UN and the Palestinian Authority.

The slow pace of reconstruction, however, has invited the ire of several Palestinian factions and civil society organizations.

During Israel's recent 51-day onslaught, 15,671 housing units were damaged across the coastal enclave, including 2,276 that were totally destroyed, according to official Palestinian figures.