Raid was lawful, Israel's Netanyahu tells Gaza flotilla inquiry Skip to main content

Raid was lawful, Israel's Netanyahu tells Gaza flotilla inquiry

Mr Netanyahu testifying at the inquiry Mr Netanyahu said Israel took action when it believed it was in danger
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told an inquiry that Israel "acted under international law" when it boarded a flotilla of ships taking aid to Gaza in May.
He appeared before a public commission examining the deaths of nine Turkish activists during the raid.
Israel says the inquiry will be a thorough examination of the events.
The storming of the activists' ship in international waters sparked a crisis between Turkey and Israel.

Israel and the Palestinians

There were also widespread protests around the world.
"I am convinced that at the end of your investigation, it will become clear that the state of Israel and the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] acted in accordance with international law," Mr Netanyahu said.
'Interests' He said the military action was necessary to prevent weapons getting into the Gaza Strip, and Israel had taken action only when it believed it was in danger itself.
Turkey rebuffed Israeli attempts to persuade Ankara it should prevent the flotilla leaving a Turkish port, where the ships were berthed before setting off for Gaza, to avoid a conflict, Mr Netanyahu said.
"It appears that [Turkey] did not see in the prospect of a clash between Turkish activists and Israel something that clashed with its interests," he told the panel.
He told the inquiry the international perception that there was humanitarian crisis in Gaza was wrong, and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas used that to strengthen its control of the territory.
The panel then took evidence from Mr Netanyahu in a private session following his public appearance.
International pressure At the time of the raid, Israel said the activists were determined to attack its soldiers, although Turkey described the killings as "state-sponsored terrorism".
The commission of inquiry was set up only after international pressure, and some observers say it will not really get to the causes of why the operation went so badly wrong.
After criticism from its allies over the flotilla incident, Israel considerably eased its blockade of Gaza - allowing in more food and humanitarian goods.
The defence minister and the head of the Israeli army are also to give evidence this week.
Observers say that subsequent international inquiries may be more analytical and critical of Israeli government policy in Gaza.
The UN secretary general has announced that a panel will examine the raid and the United Nation's Human Rights Commission is also to hold an inquiry.
Turkey is also due to hold its own inquiry into the raid.

BBC
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