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Mavi Marmara off Haifa coast (archives)
Photo: Dudi Cohen

Turks return to Marmara, seek evidence

(VIDEO) Al-Jazeera presents images from ship raided by IDF, reports that investigators analyzing direction of shooting and who opened fire. Commando chief tells BBC unaccustomed to media exposure

VIDEO - Investigators on behalf of the Turkish Police and representatives of the country's public prosecutor recently boarded the Mavi Marmara in order to search for evidence indicative of the development of events on the deck at the end of May.

 

Turkey seeks to use the investigation's findings against Israel.

 

Al-Jazeera reported that the investigators are analyzing the bullet holes on the ship deck as well as on the bloodied clothes and life vests. They will attempt to decode from what direction the bullets were shot and who opened fire. According to the report, a Turkish investigation team has collected evidence for 48-hours around the clock in order to use it against Israel.

 

 

On Monday, the BBC's investigative TV show, Panorama, will air an extensive segment on the Marmara. One of the commanders of the Israel Navy commandos said in an interview with the program, "Exposure and headlines in the press are bizarre to us."

 

In another interview on Panorama, the wife of one of the nine people killed during the raid said that her husband wanted to be "a Palestinian martyr."

 

A little over a week ago, the Marmara arrived back on Turkish shores after sitting in Ashdod and Haifa ports for two months. The Foreign Ministry sent a note to Turkey expressing Israel's expectation to prevent additional ships from violating the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.

 

"The note emphasized that Israel transfers equipment and goods to Gaza on a regular basis via land crossings in a manner accepted by the international community and firmly based on recognized agreements," the Defense Ministry reported.

 

In addition to the commissions of inquiry established by Israel and the UN, Turkey also appointed a team to probe the flotilla raid. The Turkish commission "will investigate the attack and the treatment of the activists," reported a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Ankara, noting that the commission's findings will be presented to the probe set up by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

 

The Turkish commission will be comprised of clerks from the foreign, justice, interior, and transportation ministries as well as figures from the Turkish shipping administration. It is unclear when the Turkish commission will submit its findings.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.16.10, 19:03
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