addition, Palestinians are also forbidden from “accessing a 1.5 [nautical miles] wide strip along the maritime boundary with Israel, and one nautical mile wide strip in the south, along the maritime boundary with Egypt”.182 Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian access to the sea affect 85% of Gaza’s fishing waters (as defined in 1994). Moreover, they are responsible for a potential fish catch loss of approximately 1,300 metric tons between 2000 and 2012, and for a reduction in the number of fishermen from 10,000 in 2000 to 3,500, as of July 2013.183 Similar to the land buffer zone, this naval buffer zone faces further restrictions in times of conflict: in 2008, in the context of “Operation Cast Lead”, it was reduced to three nautical miles; and during last summer’s “Operation Protective Edge”, fishermen had no access to the sea at all.184 Between 2009 and 2013, at least 300 fishing boats were confiscated,185 and, only in 2013, at least 12 boats were damaged or destroyed by Israeli gunfire.186 Palestinian fishermen remain exposed to being harassed, detained, having their boats confiscated as well as to warning and even direct fire from Israeli naval forces: most recently, on 22 October 2014, “Israeli naval forces detained seven fishermen, and seized their two boats”; 187 during the following week, “Israeli naval forces opened fire towards Palestinian fishing boats reportedly sailing within the Israeli declared six nautical mile fishing limit, forcing them ashore”.188 Conclusion Israel’s land and naval buffer zones in Gaza contribute to keeping many families in underdeveloped living conditions. This is achieved by, “undermin[ing] the fishery and agricultural sector in Gaza[,] which is the primary source of income for thousands of fisherman and farmers and their families”.189 Operation Protective Edge directly affected at least 40,000 people employed in the agriculture and fishery sector and has largely contributed to a situation of severe food insecurity that affects about 57% of Gaza’s population.190 This is a result of limiting the ability of most households to purchase food and to engage in production for subsistence and income.191 Finally, as OCHA has 182 OCHA, Between the Fence and a Hardplace, 11. 183 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, Access Restricted Areas (ARA) in the Gaza Strip, 1. 184 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, “Access and Movement (Gaza Crisis), September 2014.” 185 BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Israeli Land Grab and Forced Population Transfer of Palestinians, A Handbook for Vulnerable Individuals and Communities, 82. 186 OCHA, Fragmented Lives: Humanitarian Overview 2013, 14. 187 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, Protection of Civilians, 21-27 October 2014, 4. 188 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, Protection of Civilians, 28 October - 3 November 2014, 4. 189 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, Protection of Civilians, 21-27 October 2014, 4. 190 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, “Access and Movement (Gaza Crisis), September 2014.” 191 OCHA - Occupied Palestinian Territories, Gaza Initial Rapid Assessment, 4. 53