The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said that Israel will not face prosecution for an attack on a flotilla of ships attempting to deliver aid to Gaza four years ago, despite a “reasonable basis” that war crimes were committed.
Chief Prosecutor Fatou 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 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."
Responding to the decision Ismail Bilgen, the son of one of those killed in the raid said, “although this court decision is not satisfying, it’s still a success.”
Meanwhile Israel labelled the prosecutor’s decision to investigate the incident as “pointless” and politically motivated.”
See more from the AFP here and New York Times here.