Israel’s Public Commission for Examining the Naval Incident of 31 May 2010, otherwise known as the Turkel Commission, has published the first part of its report on the May 2010 flotilla raid. It found that the actions of the IDF soldiers were "lawful and pursuant to the rules of international law,” although it alluded to “the regrettable consequences of the loss of human life and physical injuries.” The investigative commission, which was headed by the retired Israeli Supreme Court Judge Jacob Turkel and also included Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lord Trimble from Britain and General Kenneth Watkin from Canada as foreign observers, found: “When examining the operation as a whole it seems that the soldiers did not overreact." The report continued to say that "there are no grounds to say that Israel acted against the people of Gaza.”
The commission found that the Israeli naval blockade “imposed on the Gaza Strip – in view of the security circumstances and Israel’s efforts to comply with its humanitarian obligations – was legal pursuant to the rules of international law.” As such, Israel had the right to enforce a blockade, just as other nations did in international waters in the past. In line with its legal rights, the Israel’s Navy intercepted a flotilla of six vessels sailing under the banner of the Free Gaza Movement as it neared the Gaza Strip, ostensibly to deliver humanitarian aid. Organizers later admitted that the real purpose was as a publicity stunt against Israel.
While the other vessels all surrendered peacefully to the Israeli marines, the passengers aboard the largest ship – the Mavi Marmara – ambushed and violently attacked them. Three soldiers were abducted and held below deck for a period of time. The Israelis responded with non-lethal and live small arms fire, ultimately killing nine of their attackers, all of them members of the IHH, an Islamist Turkish charity that had sponsored the flotilla.
Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued a statement saying that the conclusions "prove that Israel is a law-abiding country that is capable of examining itself and that respects the norms and rules of the international system."
The report, almost 300 pages-long, was accompanied by a letter from Lord Trimble and General Watkin stating: "We have no doubt that the commission is independent. This part of the report is evidence of its rigor."
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan immediately denounced the findings. "In my judgment there is no value or credibility to this report," he said in reaction. Ankara is still demanding an apology from Israel for the raid, which Jerusalem has so far categorically ruled out.
