A flotilla carrying Palestinian civilians departed yesterday from Gaza in an attempt to break an Israeli-imposed blockade on the Strip.<br /><br />Footage shows protesters gathering on a beach near the northern security fence border with Israel as the fleet leaves the port.<br /><br />Demonstrators can be seen setting fire to tires moments before Israeli forces fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.<br /><br />Demonstrators can also be seen hurling slings from the beach.<br /><br />Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas seized control of the Strip. Israel controls the coastal Palestinian enclave, forcing fishermen to work within a designated fishing zone.<br /><br />Attempts have been made to break the on-going blockade by sending boats from Gaza for Israel’s territorial waters and vice-versa to breach the maritime blockade.
