Israeli Navy Attacks International Monitoring Boat

(GAZA) - An Israeli warship attacked international observers, a journalist and the Palestinian captain of the Civil Peace Service Gaza (CPSGAZA) boat Oliva, early this morning in an attempt to harm the crew members and threaten them with arrest.

"We were behind the buoy that Israel put out at sea to mark the three mile limit and they attacked us with heavy water cannons for half an hour, chasing us towards the northen nautical border," said Rosa Schiano, an Italian observer.

"Then they accused us of crossing the border, when they had forcibly chased us in that direction."

The Oliva was near one fishing boat within three nautical miles of the shore at 8:40 AM, Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, when an Israeli warship drew closer and began circling around the boat, chasing it towards Gaza’s north coast.

The warship soon attacked the Oliva with a water cannon, causing the boat to fill up with water. The crew stated that they did not pose any danger and asked the warship to stop firing water. A soldier replied: "Shut up".

The warship ordered the Oliva to shut down its motor, and its crew to stand in the front of the boat. When they asked whether they were being arrested, a soldier replied: "We'll take all of you."

Finally, radio commanders decided alternately and the Oliva and its crew were allowed to sail away. "This is your last warning. Next time we won’t be as nice, if you know what I mean," a soldier added as the Oliva prepared to leave.

While the Oliva was under attack, the CPSGAZA land team observed the Israeli navy simultaneously attacking Palestinian fishermen west of the Gaza Seaport. The fishermen were targeted by live gunfire and wake washed.

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Anonymous June 14, 2012 9:17 am (Pacific time)

Eileen you are partly right, but at least you see that Israel is an evil force. The USS Liberty was thought to have witnessed, via their tech, the murdering of Egyptian POW's by Israel. If you really want to do something about this cover-up, contact the Jewish movie/television producers around the country and ask them why don't they make a movie on this crime. Of course having members from the USS Liberty as advisors would help. What irks me, and has since the late 60's is how there has been a blackout on this matter. Swear to God, I know navy personnel, even blue water types, who were in, in 1967, who have no idea about this attack. Teaching about this matter in academia is a way to get blacklisted. Our enemy are those who ignore this war crime, and they are legion. Oh, if you are running for political office and discuss this matter, expect a massive demonization to take place. If you are completely clean in all your past behaviors, they will just invent something negative.

eileen fleming June 14, 2012 4:24 am (Pacific time)

On 8 June 1967, Israel had planned on attacking Syria, but the USS LIBERTY got in the way while navigating in International waters; and ever since THAT DAY in infamy the state of Israel has been out of control aided and abetted by US policy and we the peoples tax dollars. Jonathan Ben-Artis, nephew of PM Netanyahu nailed it: "If Americans truly are our friends, they would shake us up and take away the keys, because right now we are driving drunk and without this wake-up call, we will soon find ourselves in the ditch of an undemocratic, doomed state."

Anonymous June 13, 2012 11:34 pm (Pacific time)

Yup just like the last time. The ship didn't pose any danger. But it is well know today that there were known terrorists on the boat, weapons and they were the ones who started assaulting the soldiers.

Editor: That is 100% false, and every part of it is patently disproven. For God's sake, these are Christian monitors, you can not lie and get away with it, they are peaceful. This was a ship of peace activists. Israel has to stick its nose into every chance to kill people who disagree with their illegal blockade of Gaza. Damned racists, all you want to do is wipe the Palestinians from the map and blame others for what YOUR forces do because Israel is the biggest terrorist in the form of government in history. Nothing you write is true, you are a hasbara talking machine, programmed and well oiled to bark out lies as truth.

All these so called Piece Keepers are nothing else but terrorists for me. They are the instigator in every incident. Why can't they just leave Israel alone? Stay the heck away from them?

Editor: You (Israel) has surrounded Gaza with walls and deadly fishing boats, YOU are the terrorists, they are the doves, you are the dirty hawks that do not deserve what you have, we collectively will end your bigoted desires to keep killing by publicizing the truth and turning people away from their misguided support of Israel.

Anonymous June 13, 2012 9:24 pm (Pacific time)

israel is owned by the Rothchild cartel, they can do anything they want, the U.N. is also owned so there is nothing we can do about it, until people realize that the elite are few, and we are many. Writing letters to obama and the U.N. etc will do nothing (gomes),

Editor: You're so full of shit, sitting here always ragging on people actually doing something about human rights. Gomes has had measured victories in recent weeks, leave it alone, you are WRONG and will never make a difference. We make a difference and have this damned peanut gallery for people to talk shit, I get so tired of it, you never figured out that having a big wide set of blinders on makes you a tiny one dimensional parrot always ALWAYS trying to insult genuine efforts of others, you are a commenter, Gomes is moving small mountains, screw the rest of it.

waking people up to the rothchild cartel, and how they indoctrinate thru tv and the eduation system is the only thing that will change anything. Writing letters to the U.N. and obama...major, major LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Editor: Easy to understand seeing this, why I quit playing this crap with your rude comments.

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