A Palestinian fisherman was shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon by the gunfire of the Egyptian naval forces in southern Gaza Strip, medics and security sources said.

Zakareya Bakker, coordinator for the fishermen union in Gaza, said in a press statement that 32-year-old Gaza fisherman Mustafa Abu Oudeh was shot dead by Egyptian naval forces' gunfire off the southern Gaza town of Rafah coast, close to the border with Egypt.

Gaza Health Ministry also confirmed the incident in a press statement.

Oudeh is a fisherman from Shatti refugee camp and was on a fishing boat with other fishermen who approached an area off the coast of Rafah.

According to Hamas security sources, eyewitnesses and local radio station, Oudeh's body was taken to his home in western Gaza city.

There are 3,000 fishermen in the Gaza Strip, according to the fishermen union, who said that the fishermen face daily Israeli harassment and Egyptian security measures to prevent smuggling through the sea.