Turkey to indict ex-Israeli commanders

Turkey has proposed an indictment against four former Israeli commanders over a 2010 attack on a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla that killed nine Turkish activists. According to a report published by the Turkish Sabah daily on Wednesday, the indictment was proposed by Istanbul Prosecutor Mehmet Akif Ekinci. The 144-page indictment seeks 10 life imprisonment sentences for former Israeli Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, former Navy commander Eliezer Marom, former Air Force Intelligence chief Avishai Levi and former Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin. On May 31, 2010, Israeli forces attacked the Gaza-bound humanitarian Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish nationals aboard Turkish ship Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other activists who were part of the six-ship convoy. Another Turkish national, Suleyman Soylemez, who was injured during the raid, is still in a coma, Turkish media say. Turkey described the attack as a violation of international law “tantamount to banditry and piracy.” The four ex-Israeli commanders face the proposed life sentences for “inciting to kill monstrously, and by torturing,” Turkish media said. The court in Istanbul received the proposed indictment on Wednesday, and it is expected to decide on its approval within 15 days. Reports say the Turkish prosecutor also proposed in the 144-page document that the court press several other charges against members of the Israeli military, including “commandeering vehicles, voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder, persecution and causing damage” to the Mavi Marmara.