UN probe of Gaza Flotilla finds 'clear evidence' against Israel

A United Nations Human Rights probe concluded Wednesday the investigation into Israel’s Gaza flotilla raid and said that Israeli military broke international laws during the May 31 attack.

In a 56-page report, the UN panel of three international lawyers said that the actions by Israeli commandos and the attack on the pro-Palestinian international flotilla, which left nine dead, were "disproportionate" and "betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality.”

"There is clear evidence to support prosecutions of the following crimes within the terms of article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention: wilful killing; torture or inhuman treatment; wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health,” said in the report. The investigators interviewed more than 100 witnesses in Britain, Jordan, Switzerland, and Turkey.

The UN fact-finding mission also said the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory was "unlawful" because of a humanitarian crisis there. "For this reason alone, the blockade is unlawful and cannot be sustained in law. This is so regardless of the grounds on which it is sought to justify the legality of the blockade," said in the report.

Israeli Foreign Minister has already responded and said in the statement: “Israel is of the opinion that the flotilla incident is amply and sufficiently investigated as it is," BBC quoted the statement. "All additional dealing with this issue is superfluous and unproductive."