Human Rights Council backs flotilla probe report
LAST UPDATED: 09/29/2010 18:50
UNHRC votes in favor of endorsing the conclusions of the inquiry which concluded that Israel violated international law.
The Mavi Marmara ship, aboard which Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla took place on May Photo: Associated Press
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted on Wednesday in favor of endorsing the conclusions of the report released earlier this month concluding that
Israeli
forces violated international law when they raided a Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship killing nine activists earlier this year.The resolution, tabled on behalf of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, was approved with 30 votes in
favor, one against and 15 abstentions.
RELATED:Turkish president demands apology for flotilla at UNUS concerned UNHRC report may stop peace talksThe
56-page document lists a series of alleged crimes committed by Israeli
forces during and after the raid, including willful killing and torture,
and claims there is "clear evidence to support prosecutions."
"A
series of violations of international law, including international
humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces
during the interception of the flotilla and during the detention of
passengers in Israel prior to deportation," the experts found.Examining
the circumstances of the raid, the panel concluded that a humanitarian
crisis existed in Gaza on the day of the incident in Gaza and "for this
reason alone the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law."
"The
conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel toward the flotilla
passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but
demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It
betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality," the report said.