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