The prosecutor of the ICC will open a preliminary investigation into Israel’s 2010 raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the death of nine Turkish activists and strained relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n
The referral has come from the Indian Ocean island of Comoros,
\nwhere one of the flotilla\u2019s vessels was registered. Comoros is a
\nmember of the ICC and according to the court’s rules it is
\nobligated to address an issue when a member state complains.<\/p>\n
“My office will be conducting a preliminary examination in order
\nto establish whether the criteria for opening an investigation are
\nmet,<\/i>” prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement after
\nmeeting with lawyers from a Turkish law firm Elmadag that is
\nrepresenting Comoros.<\/p>\n
The Mavi Marmara ship registered in Comoros was stormed by Israeli
\nforces on May 31, 2010 when it was attempting to break an
\nIsraeli-Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip. Soldiers killed nine
\nactivists, eight of them Turkish nationals, sparking international
\noutcry and condemnation from the UN for use of \u201cexcessive
\nforce.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
The UN has called for the six-year blockade on Gaza to be lifted
\non numerous occasions on the grounds that it represents \u201ca
\ndenial of basic human rights in contravention of international
\nlaw.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Lawyers from the Istanbul-based law firm claimed, during the
\nfiling, that the events on the ship should be considered as having
\noccurred on the territory of Comoros.<\/p>\n
So far the court has declined to investigate events in the
\nPalestinian territories, due to lack of jurisdiction. The ICC has
\njurisdiction over its members, over cases that are referred to it
\nby the UN Security Council and over events that take place on the
\nterritory of member states.<\/p>\n
“After careful analysis of all available information, I shall
\nmake a determination that will be made public in due course,”<\/i>
\nBensouda said.<\/p>\n
Relations between Israel and Turkey were strained by the incident.
\nHowever in April Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a
\nphone conversation apologized to Turkey for “any error that may
\nhave led to loss of life.\u201d<\/i> Israel offered compensation to the
\nfamilies of the victims of the flotilla raid.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, a second round of reconciliation talks between
\nIsrael and Turkey took place in Jerusalem. Following the talks
\nIsrael announced that an agreement had been drafted \u201cbut a number
\nof clarifications are needed on a few issues.”<\/p>\n
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that full
\ndiplomatic ties can only be resumed after compensation is paid and
\nIsrael must end all commercial restrictions on the
\nPalestinians.<\/p>\n