Ex-U.N. prosecutor probes flotilla boarding

The U.N. Human Rights Council has appointed former U.N. war crimes prosecutor Desmond de Silva and two other people to investigate Israel’s May 31 boarding of a cargo ship headed to the Gaza Strip.

A statement said the British lawyer will be joined by Trinidadian judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips and Malaysian women’s rights advocate Mary Shanthi Dairiam in examining whether Israel violated international law.

Israel has refused to cooperate with previous investigations ordered by the 47-nation council.

Eight Turks and one Turkish American were killed in Israel’s interception of the flotilla that was trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

Israel says its naval commandos were acting in self-defense after being attacked by pro-Palestinian activists, and an Israeli military report concluded that flawed intelligence gathering and planning led to the deadly encounter.

The report praised the commandos who took part in the operation and said they were justified in opening fire.

“There is an investigation going on by Israel and it should be allowed to continue to do its job,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Andy David said.

He didn’t say if Israel would cooperate with the U.N. council’s investigation. — ap