Ashkenazi: Investigation needed
Photo: Dalit Shacham
IDF chief tells troops they did 'splendidly'
Gabi Ashkenazi visits soldiers wounded during raid of Gaza flotilla ship at Haifa hospital
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi on Tuesday visited soldiers injured in the raid on
the Gaza flotilla ship Marmara. He was accompanied by the commander of the Navy, Admiral Eliezer Marom.
"We sent you on this mission, and you operated splendidly. We still need to investigate what happened," Ashkenazi told the soldiers, who have been hospitalized in Haifa.
Flotilla News
Ynet reporters
Soldiers, officers bring passengers of Marmara ship under arrest at Ashdod port, first questioning each separately and then transferring them to Beersheba Prison, where they receive toiletries, meal, and beds
After the visit Ashkenazi told reporters he had conversed with the troops about what had happened during the violent incident in order to add the information to the probe being conducted by the IDF. He added that he had spoken to the medical staff on their condition and thanked them for the treatment they gave to the soldiers.
The three soldiers were hospitalized Monday. The first was evacuated by helicopter after sustaining a stab wound to the stomach. He has undergone surgery and his wounds are currently labeled moderate.
The second soldier also arrived by helicopter after being hit in the head with a bat. His wounds are considered light. The third was brought in after the operation, and doctors discovered he had suffered skull fractures. His wounds are also considered light.
Six civilians injured in the brawl are also hospitalized in Rambam Hospital. Four of them are Turkish citizens, one is Indonesian, and one remains unidentified.
The injuries of the first five are labeled moderate, but the sixth has sustained life-threatening injuries and is hospitalized in intensive care. All six are reportedly suffering from bullet wounds.
