THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Israel says it welcomes the decision by the International Criminal Court to close the preliminary investigation into the actions of Israeli forces who stormed a boat in a flotilla heading to Gaza with aid four years ago.
Eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the ship.
A prosecutor said in a statement today that the Israeli forces may have committed war crimes, but that the crimes aren’t serious enough to prosecute.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry says the case was “legally unfounded and politically motivated.”
The investigation began after the tiny African state of Comoros filed a complaint. The ship that was stormed was sailing under a Comoros flag.
A Turkish lawyer representing Comoros is vowing not to give up the case.
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129-a-12-(Fatou Bensouda (FAH’-too behn-SOO’-dah), prosecutor, International Criminal Court, in statement to media)-“upon personal dignity”-International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says Israeli forces are alleged to have killed a number of activists when they stormed the aid flotilla bound for Gaza in 2010. (6 Nov 2014)
< 128-a-17-(Fatou Bensouda (FAH’-too behn-SOO’-dah), prosecutor, International Criminal Court, in statement to media)-“of May 2010”-International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says investigators believe the argument that Israel may have committed war crimes has some substance. (6 Nov 2014) < APPHOTO AMS102: FILE – In this May 31, 2010 file photo the Mavi Marmara ship, the lead boat of a flotilla headed to the Gaza Strip which was stormed by Israeli naval commandos in a predawn confrontation, sails into the port of Ashdod, Israel. On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said that Israeli forces may have committed war crimes when they stormed an aid flotilla boat heading to Gaza, but the possible crimes aren’t grave enough to merit a prosecution at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands. Eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed and several other pro-Palestinian activists were wounded when Israeli commandos stormed the ship Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File) (31 May 2010) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
