IDF's Avihai Mandelblit
Photo: Yaron Brener
Judge Turkel
Photo: Haim Zach
Raid probe: Judge advocate general testifies
Judge advocate general addresses legal aspects of blockade on Strip, tells Turkel committee probing flotilla raid, 'There is no port in Gaza. All goods are transferred via land'
Judge Advocate General Avihai Mandelblit testified on Thursday before the Turkel committee
probing the IDF takeover of the Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla. Mandelblit addressed the legal aspects of the siege on the Gaza Strip, their enforcement, and their adaptations to international law.
"There is no port in Gaza. All goods are transferred via land. It's not that there was a thriving port and we ended its existence. There was never a free maritime route to Gaza that we stopped," Mandelblit said.
Flotilla Raid
Ynet reporters
After Netanyahu, Barak shift responsibility for decision to storm Gaza-bound flotilla to IDF, army chief tells inquiry commission operation's circumstances were 'unprecedented,' says soldiers displayed 'calm, bravery, morality'
"In September 2007, a cabinet decision was taken that deemed the Gaza Strip a hostile entity, and a decision on economic policies was also made. No one even thought of flotillas at the time," he said.
On Tuesday, Major-General (Res.) Giora Eiland, who is heading the military investigation into the raid, testified before the committee. Eiland's testimony, which was held behind closed doors, lasted some five hours.
After his testimony, retired Justice Jacob Turkel asked that "additional material be collected for the committee to complete the puzzle on various matters." This request was passed on to the Foreign Ministry and the police.
Eiland's report on the military's conduct in the operation concluded that high-level officials had made errors in judgment, but accused no one of negligence.
Ari Galahar contributed to this report
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