The UN Security Council called for an impartial investigation of Israel’s deadly raid, condemning the “acts” that resulted in the loss of life. After an emergency meeting and lengthy negotiations, the council agreed on a presidential statement that was weaker than that initially demanded by the Palestinians, Arab nations and Turkey.
Pakistan, Sudan and the Palestinian delegation also tabled a draft resolution for the debate.
It called for an “independent international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance.”
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‘Israelis used bullets, gas,electroshock’
Athens : A Greek activist told Tuesday of the moment Israeli troops stormed the ill-fated Gaza-bound aid flotilla, using rubber bullets, teargas and electroshock weapons to subdue those aboard.
“Israeli troops jumped onto the boat around 0530 on Monday,” Michalis Grigoropoulos said of the pre-dawn raid by Israeli forces in international waters that killed nine activists and sparked global outrage.
Grigoropoulos was aboard the Eleftheri Mesogeio, smaller than the lead boat, the Mavi Marmara, which Israeli troops had attacked earlier. —AFP
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Raid won’t affect Pope Cyprus visit
Vatican City : Israel’s deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla “will not influence” Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to Cyprus at the weekend, the Vatican spokesman said Tuesday.
Monday’s raid was “a very sad and distressing event for the general climate” in the West Asia, but it will not affect the pontiff’s three-day visit beginning on Friday, Federico Lombardi told a news conference unveiling the Pope’s programme.
The flotilla headed for Gaza from a mustering point in international waters off Cyprus on Sunday. —AFP