ICC says won't prosecute over Israel's deadly Gaza flotilla raid
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THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court will not prosecute over Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 in which 10 Turkish activists died, despite a “reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed”.
Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that there would be no investigation leading to a potential prosecution because the alleged crimes, including the killing of 10 activists by Israeli commandos, were not of “sufficient gravity”.
“The information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed on board the Comorian-registered vessel the Mavi Marmara during the interception of the flotilla,” Bensouda said in a statement on Thursday.
“However, after carefully assessing all relevant considerations, I have concluded that the potential case(s) likely arising from an investigation into this incident would not be of 'sufficient gravity' to justify further action by the ICC,” she said.
Nine Turkish nationals died when Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla seeking to bust Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip on May 31, 2010.
A tenth activist later died of his wounds.
Israel imposed its blockade on Gaza in 2006 after militants there seized an Israeli soldier, who was eventually freed in 2011 in a trade for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The blockade was strengthened in 2007, when the Hamas movement took control of Gaza, then eased somewhat following an international outcry over the killing of the Turkish activists.
The maritime assault severely damaged relations between former regional allies Israel and Turkey, with Ankara demanding a formal apology and compensation for the families of the raid victims, as well as the lifting of the blockade. Israel has refused to comply.
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Comments (36) Closed
Nov 06, 2014 06:06pm
Hypocrite World.
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Nov 06, 2014 06:16pm
Rest assured no power in this world can dare to prosecute Israel however Israel will soon be doomed by the effects of her own deeds
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Nov 06, 2014 06:24pm
Like the U.N., the so-called ICC is also a toothless and spineless tiger just established to cater to the vested interests of the powerful, mighty, wealthy and resource oriented people and nations in the world.
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Nov 06, 2014 06:40pm
Imagine what would have happened so far, if this crime was committed by a Muslim Country?
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Nov 06, 2014 06:52pm
Is there still any doubt who controls the reigns of UN, ICC, Human Rights?
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Nov 06, 2014 06:54pm
Wonder what would have happened if 9 Indians were killed in the same situation.
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Nov 06, 2014 07:00pm
I congrat the champions of humanity on this conclusion!
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Nov 06, 2014 07:00pm
@Ahil, actually much more hienous acts have been committed by Muslim governments with much much more casualties.. unfortunately 10 innocent people died in Israel's flottila raid.. but do you remember how many innocents were killed in operation searchlight, 1984 anti-sikh riots, Tienanmen square etc etc ??? the list is endless my friend.. Nobody's pure out here, niether them, nor you or us..!!
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Nov 06, 2014 07:01pm
@Ahil it's not Muslim or non Muslim question. Think beyond that, it's Slap on the face of Humanity!
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Nov 06, 2014 07:01pm
International criminal court is a zionist controlled system in the name of ICC. What a shame! Muslim countries are used as scapegoat to achieve their goal in occupation and robbing resourcesand killing. These people are the real evil in suit and ties which are major cause of world problems such as terrorism and poverty. We akready knew these signs from the final revelation Holy Quran and Hadith. Yet we Muslims never took it seriously. Ofcourse this evil power will taste defeat which we all are aware.
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Nov 06, 2014 07:27pm
Absolutely appealing and disgusting!! Innocent people killed because they wanted to help Palestinians. That's their crime. ICC is also compromised, evidently.
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Nov 06, 2014 07:27pm
@muhammad I sure hope so
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Nov 06, 2014 07:34pm
And I wonder what is considered grave and what is not? Can we ask the family members of those who lost lives for a change please?
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Nov 06, 2014 07:43pm
Way to go 'Justice'- International bodies such as UN or in this case ICC must shoot themselves for their apparent impotency regarding every matter involving a MIGHT. Case closed.
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Nov 06, 2014 07:44pm
So what's new. ICC is a puppet from the beginning.
I'm sure my Indian friends here would still somehow argue that the ICC is right
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Nov 06, 2014 08:17pm
Unfortunately, the article doesn't delve into why 'sufficient gravity' of the crime couldn't be established.
The ICC presently only has grounds to investigate and prosecute in instances of:
Genocide
Ethnic Cleansing
War Crimes
Crimes Against Humanity
Of the 4, only the charge of crimes against humanity could potentially be brought against the Israeli government although, given the facts of the case, an analysis would demonstrate that the deaths wouldn't meet the criteria of crimes against humanity, as established by international humanitarian law and codified in the ICC's Rome Statute.
People commenting otherwise should do their own research of the restraints on international humanitarian law before passing armchair opinions.
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Nov 06, 2014 08:19pm
Such unfair and biased actions sow the seeds of terrorism.
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Nov 06, 2014 08:24pm
@Ahil, we the muslims kills many in our country every day and we kill out of arrogance, in the name of religion, or for honor. Do you expect ICC to prosecute Pakistanis Mullah as well? This has nothing to do with religion, it's a political move. If muslims were so pious and great, Zionist organizations would not had dared to occupy lands anywhere in middle east but thanks to our Muslims Leaders, we have illegal settlements, illegal occupied lands, and illegal naval blocade. Do you realize the size of Isreal and the muslim countries that are around this piece of land? Stop blaming others, we are responsible for our own situation.
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Nov 06, 2014 09:02pm
We live in a world where lies and deceit supersedes every aspect that defines the remnants of humanly behavior of this so called civilized world, surely there is no entity as much just as the God Mighty Himself and the suppressed will definitely stand tall on the day of judgement, RIP!
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Nov 06, 2014 09:14pm
So you can kill 10 people and walk away due to insufficient gravity. Great justice. Who was that judge?
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Nov 06, 2014 09:49pm
Surprised? I am Not.
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Nov 06, 2014 10:18pm
Typical double standards of the western world. The world is always with the powerful.
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Nov 06, 2014 10:19pm
"Hey" Its OK, they were "only muslims of no importance whatsoever" and the ICC is a "White man's Club"
Turkey can "cry all it wants" but it will fall on "deaf ears"
Now if Turkey had done the same to a israeli boat "What a furore" that would have created in all the international media, billions of dollars in compensation to the victims families & dependents, and all the "negative media attention of going on holiday to Turkey, and so on"
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Nov 06, 2014 10:34pm
In site of this blatant injustice, west blames Arabs and Muslim to take arms and become suicide bombers.
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Nov 06, 2014 10:36pm
@Sonny Afridi "Absolutely appealing "
Ok
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Nov 06, 2014 11:13pm
Oh god help Palestine . There's is limit for every thing. Why western nations are knowingly creating another ISIS. ICC is meant only for nations who oppose US of A. They killed millions in Iraq invaded it destroyed it on falls ground. World needs quick emergence of BRICS to counter balance hegemony of US of A
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Nov 07, 2014 12:58am
Israel has immunity for all the criminal acts. Immunity from the world body. Long live UN.
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Nov 07, 2014 01:42am
this was inevitable............. not a news at all. billions of people knew the outcome.
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Nov 07, 2014 02:08am
Israel is on top in West Asia because of infighting among the "defenders of Palestine". No one in the Arab world cares anymore. European liberals are way more active in attempting to bring sanity to the wretched strip of land than all the keyboard warriors of the ummah put together. Shame!
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Nov 07, 2014 03:44am
This is how they want to keep the world under their rule. Then why do you cry about oppressed becoming terrorist?
Shame ! Shame ! Shame !
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Nov 07, 2014 03:50am
no surprise. Western organizations don't prosecute their "own"
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Nov 07, 2014 03:54am
Just a case of some countries being more equal than others on the world stage.
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Nov 07, 2014 03:59am
@Samrat Like to compare the acts committed by muslim govts to that of India in kashmir, Russia in Chenhnya and USSR under Stalin, Israel in Lebanon and Palestine, US in Vietnam, Iraq, etc.....
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Nov 07, 2014 07:20am
"killing of 10 activists by Israeli commandos, were not of “sufficient gravity”.- If killing of 10 unarmed men by Israeli commandos is not 'sufficient gravity,' then what is sufficient gravity ? 100 men , 200 men ? If such act was done by a Muslim country, ICC would have labeled it a terrorist state.
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Nov 07, 2014 07:53am
@Ahil Muslim countries are committing crimes. Whats happening???
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Nov 07, 2014 09:02am
@Raju Surely not surprising at all......but highly shocking. The aspect of any surprise would have surfaced only....only if the ICC would have "dared" to give a true and justice based verdict. Having said this it is also a fact that Israel is committing all these crimes not only due to support of USA and Europe but also because of indirect and behind the curtains support from Arab countries and also because of indifference of Muslim ummah. The day the Muslim ummah wakes up against Israeli atrocities even the support and help from anti Islam lobby would not be able to save Israel.
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