Zoabi refuses to cooperate with Israeli investigation committee

Zoabi refuses to cooperate with Israeli investigation committee

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, — MP Hanin Zoabi, one of the participants in the Freedom Flotilla, said that she will not cooperate with a committee ratified by the Israeli government yesterday, which would investigate facts related to the Freedom Fleet massacre.

A statement issued by the Zoabi’s office on Tuesday provided that neither she nor any others who participated in the Flotilla will trust or cooperate with the committee, because it was “formed to find a legal justification for violations of law against the Flotilla committed by Israeli occupation forces.

Zoabi strongly criticized the Israeli government’s decision to form this committee, saying it aims to deplete international anger and demands to form an international investigation committee as provided by international law.

Palestinian government spokesman in Gaza, Taher Al-Nunu, confirmed in a statement on Monday that the Palestinian government disapproves of the Israel-formed committee, adding that it is an obvious attempt by Israel to evade consequences of the crime committed in international waters against peace missionaries en route to Gaza, and to exonerate the Israeli army of responsibility for its crimes.

He added that there is no substitute for an international investigation according to international standards to prosecute the perpetrators of this crime before international war crimes courts.

The government has called on the international community and related organizations to reject Israel’s plan and to assign an international investigation committee under the supervision of UN control to probe the Israeli crime, especially since the United Nations Council for Human Rights had endorsed the formation of this committee.