Lawyers of flotilla victims push int’l court to prosecute Israel

Lawyers of flotilla victims push int’l court to prosecute Israel

 

ANKARA, — Lawyers representing the victims of the Freedom Flotilla, which was attacked by Israeli soldiers late last May, have filed requests to the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israel on charges of crimes against humanity.

According to news sources in Turkey, Ramazan Ariturk, a lawyer for the nine Turkish murder victims on board during the attack said a letter to that effect has been sent to international court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

“There is enough evidence to try Israel, and many law experts in the world share this opinion,” he added.

The victims’ lawyers and relatives decided to head for The Hague, the Netherlands on Thursday to lodge a complaint before the International Criminal Court before holding a press conference.

The Mavi Marmara ship, which was attacked by Israeli soldiers while on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, carried the flag of the Comoros, which is a member of the international court. The massacre ended with the death of nine Turkish citizens on board and the injury of dozens of other victims, causing a wave of international outrage.

The International Criminal Court examines cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. It has the power to convict a person who commits a crime on the territory of one of its member states, or for an individual citizen of a member state.