A fishing boat in flames along the Gaza strip.

Israel's navy opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats wounding two people.

Israeli authorities say they identified two Palestinian vessels deviating from the southern Gaza Strip into Egyptian waters in a suspected smuggling attempt.

Upon their return from Egypt , Israeli soldiers called on the vessel to stop and fired toward the vicinity of the vessel in order to halt its progress.

After the vessel failed to comply, the soldiers fired.

For some fishing has now become a lethal business.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABU MAZEN FISHERMAN FROM RAFAH SAYING:

"Those who fish in order to buy bread to feed their kids face trouble-- it looks like this way of trying to earn money to buy bread is deathly dangerous."

Israel accuses militant groups in Gaza of attempting to smuggle arms and ammunition via sea, and through tunnels under the nearby border with Egypt.