Ref: 64/2011

Yesterday and this morning, the Israeli Navy attacked Olivia Boat,
which monitors the situation at Gaza seashore, in addition to Palestinian
fishing boats.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately
09:30 on Wednesday, 13 July 2011, the Israeli Navy opened fire at 8 Palestinian
fishing boats, as well as at Olivia Boat. The boats were heavily damaged. According to a fisherman, Ayman Ali al-Habeel, 36, from al-Shati refugee
camp in Gaza City, he sailed for fishing opposite to Gaza Valley. There were another 10 fishing boats in the
area. He pointed out that an Israeli
gunboat opened fire indiscriminately at the boats, heavily damaging them. The gunboats fired also at al-Habeel’s boat,
heavily damaging it. According to
al-Habeel, he and other fishermen called on Olivia Boat for help. The crew of Olivia stated that they went to
the area, but Israeli naval troops stopped and attacked them using water
hoses. The crew of Olivia was not able
to offer help to the damaged fishing boats. 

The Israeli Navy has continued to impose severe restrictions on the
work of Palestinian fishermen, and obstruct Olivia’s activities. At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 14 July
2011, Olivia sailed to the area where Palestinian fishermen lost their fishing
equipments as a result of the Israeli attacks. However, the Israeli Navy opened fire at them and used water hoses
against them for about 45 minutes. The
boat was filled up with water, and its radio and motor were damaged. Communication with the crew was completely
cut off. At approximately 10:30,
Palestinian fishing boats were able to locate Olivia and pull it towards the
beach. International solidarity
activists, Joe Carton, 30, and Alexandra Robinsion, 21, as well as Captain
Salah Ammar, 40, who were on board of the boat, were taken to a Palestinian
fishing boat. Later, Israeli gunboats
chased Palestinian fishing boats, including the one that was pulling Olivia, until
a distance of one nautical mile from Gaza beach. 

It is worth noting that Olivia started its work on 20 April 2011
under the umbrella of the Spanish Civil Peace Service. It carried out the first monitoring mission
in the Gaza Strip on 8 June 2011. This
project is aimed at monitoring and documenting Israeli attacks against
Palestinian fishermen while fishing. PCHR, Fishing and Naval Sports Association, Union of Agricultural Work
Committees and the Coordination Committee of Popular Resistance participate in
the project, which is sponsored by dozens of local and international
organizations. The monitoring team
includes international solidarity activists from Italy, Sweden, USA and the UK. 

PCHR condemns continued attacks by the Israeli Navy against
Palestinian fishing boats, and the attack against Olivia, which monitors the
human rights situation in Gaza’s seawater. PCHR calls upon the international community:

1. To
intervene to stop Israeli violations of international humanitarian law,
particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, including measures aimed at
restricting or even presenting the work of Palestinian fishermen.

2. To
act to stop the Israeli Navy’s attacks against Olivia Boat, which carries out a
peaceful civil mission that seeks to ensure freedom of fishing for Palestinian
fishermen.  

3. To
lift the marine siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and allow Palestinian fishermen
to work freely.   

Note: To follow up the details on OLIVA boat see: www.cpsgaza.org