Flotilla Gaza: Netanyahu says Israel has acted according to "international law"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel had acted in accordance with "international law" during the assault against a fleet of aid to Gaza while criticizing Turkey at the first hearing of a commission of inquiry Israel.

"I am convinced that the outcome of your investigation it would appear that the State of Israel and the Israeli army acted in accordance with international law (...) I trust the Israeli Army fighters "said Netanyahu.

Nine Turks were killed in clashes with Israeli naval commandos in the collision of the ferry Mavi Marmara, in international waters on May 31, when the ship trying to break the Israeli blockade around the Gaza Strip.

The mandate of the commission, which began Monday's hearing to consider the legal aspects of this attack is limited. It involves determining the validity under international law of the sea blockade imposed by Israel in Gaza, and the raid against the fleet.

Along with this commission, Mr. Netanyahu had to accept the pressure of the international community established by a UN panel of four experts, including an Israeli and a Turk, whose work should begin on Tuesday.

According to the Prime Minister, Israeli soldiers fired because "their lives were in real danger." It says it has given orders to avoid the maximum loss of life.

He also justified the blockade on the Gaza Strip controlled by the Palestinian Islamists of Hamas in 2007: "Hamas has turned Gaza into a terrorist enclave sponsored by Iran, which gives it political support, military and financial .

"From Gaza, Hamas fired thousands of rockets, missiles and artillery shells which hit Israeli towns (...) Now the Hamas provides weapons capable of reaching Tel Aviv" , "he said.

"This committee deals with the question of international law, or Hamas and guilty of at least four war crimes: a call for genocide, systematic firing toward civilian targets, using civilians as human shields and to ban the Red Cross visit Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, he said.

Mr. Netanyahu also criticized the Turkish government and the organizers of the fleet for refusing to unload humanitarian aid carried in a port outside the Gaza Strip.

"Apparently, the Turkish government did not consider the possible friction between the Turkish activists (on boats) and our soldiers could harm its interests and justify an effective response to the organizers of the fleet," said Mr. Netanyahu.

"On May 17, Turkish Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Lula (Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) to a joint statement on the Iranian nuclear which conflicted with the U.S. position and Other members of the Security Council of the UN. In this way, Turkey a few days before the arrival of the fleet, has strengthened its solidarity with Iran, "he also said.

The Defence Minister Ehud Barak to be heard Tuesday and Chief of Staff Gaby Ashkenazi on Wednesday.

An Israeli military committee had acknowledged July 12 that the military had committed "mistakes" during the planning and execution of the raid while justifying the use of force.

Ankara has also formed its own committee as well as the Council of Human Rights the UN in Geneva and the Israeli State Comptroller Michael Lindenstrauss.

Following the wave of protests in the world caused by the raid, Israel has reduced substantially the blockade of the Gaza Strip.