Jerusalem:
An internal probe by the military has found serious errors by the Israeli navy while preparing and carrying out the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which nine Turkish activists were killed, sparking a global condemnation of the Jewish state, a media report said on Monday.
The 150-page Eiland Commission report criticizes intelligence gathering and forward planning. It faults the navy of failing to sufficiently consider the possibility that the commandos would encounter violent resistance when attempting to keep the ships out of Gaza, daily Ha'aretz reported.
The internal probe by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on the deadly raid onboard the Turkish Gaza bound aid ship on May 31 will be released later today.
Even though, it doesn't call for disciplinary action against particular officers, it criticises the navy for not cooperating sufficiently with espionage agency Mossad in gathering information ahead of the flotilla's arrival and failing to discuss the process through which the raid was approved, the daily said.
Israel's celebrated espionage agency Mossad had come under flak for failing to warn the establishment of such a possibility, with some columnists demanding that its head resign in the wake of the international criticism.
Nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed in the May 31 raid after they used clubs and knives to attack Israel commandos boarding the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara ship.
Israel had earlier made clear that it will not allow ships to anchor at the Gaza coast in order to enforce its blockade of the Islamist Hamas ruled Gaza Strip, but had agreed to transfer the humanitarian goods onboard the six ships.
The military committee, headed by Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland, is the first to complete its investigation on the matter and its report comes on a day when the Supreme Court has expressed its desire to extend the scope of another commission of inquiry investigating the issue under the Chairmanship of a retired judge, allowing it to question soldiers who participated in the raid.
In June, the five-member Turkel Committee was appointed by the government to investigate the naval raid with limited mandate.
It is currently supposed to determine whether Israel's efforts to stop the flotilla from reaching Gaza accorded with international law, and whether the soldiers' use of force was proportionate.
The committee with two international observers does not enjoy the power to subpoena witnesses and cannot draw personal conclusions against those involved in the raid.
At a hearing today to address a petition against the committee's limited authority, the Supreme Court justices said the court would consider widening the panel's mandate if its members seek to probe persons or events outside of their jurisdiction, including IDF soldiers.
Uri Avnery, a veteran Israeli peace activist and founder of the Gush Shalom peace movement, which petitioned the High Court, called the ruling a victory as it opens the door to questioning military commanders of the raid.
Israel has pledged to block any future attempts to breach the naval blockade, including the latest bid by a
Libyan freighter, the Almathea, which currently appears to be heading to Gaza despite a flurry of diplomatic efforts to divert it to Egypt.