The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Gaza City

Two Palestinians were shot dead on Saturday by Israeli forces that fired on their vessel off the Gaza Strip coast, according to Palestinian medical sources.

The two were fishermen, according to a spokesman for Hamas, but Islamic Jihad said one of the dead men was a member of its group.

The Palestinians said the Israeli fire came from a naval patrol boat but the Israeli military later said the men had been killed when an Israeli aircraft opened fire on a boat near the border with Egypt.

Israel maintains close control on shipping on the coast off Gaza, up to 11 kilometres (seven miles) from shore, saying it is needed for security reasons.