Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) were asked by judges to review their decision not to investigate the raid on a humanitarian flotilla destined for Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 2010, reports Reuters.
The ICC judges sought the review in a ruling published on Thursday.
Last year, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda said that Israel will not face prosecution for the attack on the flotilla, which left nine activists dead, despite a “reasonable basis” that war crimes were committed.
Ms Bensouda said that there would be no further investigation into the killing of 9 passengers on the ship, despite a report from her office describing Israeli forces as “intentionally directing an attack” against civilian targets.
"The information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed on board the Comorian-registered vessel the Mavi Marmara during the interception of the flotilla," said Ms Bensouda.
However she went on to add that the court would not be investigating the case further, saying, "after carefully assessing all relevant considerations, 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."
The call for a review of the decision has been condemned by Israel.
"It is not clear why the court insists on using its resources to deal with unnecessary, cynical and politically-motivated complaints," Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon was quoted by Reuters as saying. See more here.
The ICC judges sought the review in a ruling published on Thursday.
Last year, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda said that Israel will not face prosecution for the attack on the flotilla, which left nine activists dead, despite a “reasonable basis” that war crimes were committed.
Ms Bensouda said that there would be no further investigation into the killing of 9 passengers on the ship, despite a report from her office describing Israeli forces as “intentionally directing an attack” against civilian targets.
"The information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed on board the Comorian-registered vessel the Mavi Marmara during the interception of the flotilla," said Ms Bensouda.
However she went on to add that the court would not be investigating the case further, saying, "after carefully assessing all relevant considerations, 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."
The call for a review of the decision has been condemned by Israel.
"It is not clear why the court insists on using its resources to deal with unnecessary, cynical and politically-motivated complaints," Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon was quoted by Reuters as saying. See more here.