The Israel Defense Forces will conduct an internal investigation into its interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla, in which nine activists died.
Gabi Ashkenazi, IDF chief of staff, appointed Gen. Giora Eiland, the former head of Israel’s National Security Council, to lead the military investigation. Israel has rejected a United Nations proposal to establish an international commission to probe the deaths.
The Israeli investigative team will use navy testimonies gathered after the incident. The team has been charged with determining “the outcomes and lessons learned from the operation,” according to a statement from the IDF.
The members of the team include professionals with expertise on the matter who were not a part of the operational chain of command during the incident.
The investigative team will present its findings to Ashkenazi by July 4, according to the statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also decided to appoint a state panel of inquiry into the incident after deliberating with his forum of seven ministers, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported. The forum had deliberated over the panel for days.
Top justices experienced in matters of international and marine law — including at least one American observer — will make up the panel. — jta