Turkey launches flotilla investigation

Turkey has launched its own investigation into Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla.

Working under the auspices of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office, the commission will “investigate the attack and the treatment the activists faced” when Israel intercepted the flotilla on May 31, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.

Violent resistance on the Turkish ship Marmara led to the deaths of nine Turkish nationals, including a dual Turkish-American citizen.

The commission’s report will be given to the international inquiry of the Israeli operation by the United Nations that was set up last month and held its first meeting this week.

Israel, which is cooperating with the United Nations probe unless its soldiers are called to testify, is also conducting its own investigations—one by the military and one by an independent panel.

Turkish prosecutors also could press charges against Israeli leaders, such as murder and piracy, in connection with the interception, according to reports.