Israeli gunboats injure Italian HR worker

Two Gazan fishing boats with international human rights workers on board were repeatedly attacked by 2 Israeli gunboats while they were trying to exercise Palestinian people's right to fish in the Palestinian waters. One of the Israeli gunboats was using a water cannon to throw water with high pressure while the other one was randomly firing shots of live ammunition close to the fishing boats. The attack with the water cannon was extremely dangerous. The Israeli navy was trying to throw the Palestinian fishermen and the international human rights workers in the sea. The high pressure water was damaging the old boats and people on board had to avoid not only the water but also wooden pieces, shattered glass and others objects that were flying off the deck. The Israeli navy was deliberately targeting the wheelhouses of the fishing boats, smashing the windows, making holes and nearly demolishing the walls and destroying equipment. In the same time it was preventing the captains from steering the vessels and the fishing to take place.
An Italian activist was injured. Vittorio Arrigoni was hit by flying glass when the water canon smashed the glass surrounding the wheelhouse of the boat, with shards lacerating Vittorios back. He was been taken to hospital immediately upon reaching shore, requiring 10 stitches.

Gaza Fishermen

6th September 2008.

Palestinian fishermen and international observers attacked off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli navy. An independent Palestinian film maker F.Q took the footage from one of the fishing boats which was then seriously damaged by an Israeli gunboat 4days later. The attacks took place between 4AM and 9NM from the coast of Gaza