GAZA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli authorities decided on Sunday to restore the fishing zone off the coast of the Gaza Strip to 15 nautical miles, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

Nizar Ayyash, chairman of the Palestinian Fishermen Association in Gaza, confirmed to Xinhua that the permitted fishing zone has been increased to 15 nautical miles.

Meanwhile, Kamil Abu Rukun, coordinator of Israeli government activities, said in a statement, said this step is taken as "part of the civil policy to avoid the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip."

However, he warned the Palestinians not to fish beyond the identified zone.

"Any breach will be followed up appropriately by navy forces," Rukun said.

On Wednesday evening, Israel reduced Gaza's fishing area to 10 nautical miles, just a day after it was expanded to 15 nautical miles, citing incendiary balloons being fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.

Israeli naval forces have imposed strict restrictions on the work of Palestinian fishermen off the Gazan coast to prevent smuggling and possible counter-attacks.