The International Criminal Court (ICC) will not prosecute Israel for its raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 that killed nine Turkish activists.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said there was a “reasonable basis to believe war crimes … were committed,” but she would not pursue an investigation because the case was not of “sufficient gravity.”
“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,” Bensouda said in a statement.
The nine activists were killed when Israeli forces boarded the largest of the six participating ships, the Mavi Marmara, as it tried to breach an Israeli blockade.
The flotilla’s stated aim was to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestine.
Israel said the complaint was “politically motivated;” lawyers who brought the case say they plan to launch an appeal.
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Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com