Israeli shootings on Palestinians
near Gaza’s borders continued Friday, wounding one local worker collecting
gravel in northern Gaza Strip.

Fire fighters put out a forest fire in Tirat Carmel near the northern city of Haifa December 3, 2010. Firefighting aircraft from four countries flew into Israel on Friday to help battle a huge forest fire close to the northern city of Haifa that has killed at least 40 people and forced mass evacuations. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Adham Abu Selmia, a spokesman for
the medical services, said that one local worker was moderately injured by
Israeli fire. He added that Israeli snipers shot the worker “in the lower part
of his body.”

Israel has also allocated a
300-meter-wide buffer zone along its borders with Gaza. Official statistics said
that 2 people have been killed and 81 wounded since February in the buffer zone,
most of them gravel diggers.

Fire fighters put out a fire as a firefighting aircraft drops water over a forest fire in Tirat Carmel near the northern city of Haifa December 3, 2010. Firefighting aircraft from four countries flew into Israel on Friday to help battle a huge forest fire close to the northern city of Haifa that has killed at least 40 people and forced mass evacuations. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

In June, Israel started easing its
blockade on Gaza, allowing more civilian goods into the place following
international pressure after Israeli naval forces attacked a Gaza-bound aid
flotilla and killed nine Turkish activists.

However, some construction materials
like gravel and steel are still banned. As a result, Gazans dig for the gravel
near the border, at the debris of Jewish settlements that Israel evacuated in
2005.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet