BREAKING NEWS
Israel May Shun Probe Into Aid Convoy Deaths
Israel is threatening to pull out of a UN investigation into a botched commando raid on an aid convoy bound for Gaza that left nine activists dead.Skip related content
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The Israeli government said it "will not cooperate" with the United Nations enquiry, if it seeks evidence from the Israeli troops involved.
The Jewish state said it agreed to assist the four-man panel of the enquiry, set up by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on the understanding soldiers would not be questioned.
But Mr Ban said no such agreement was made. The row has overshadowed the launch of the UN investigation and risks its collapse.
Another enquiry being carried out by retired Israeli judges has now heard from one Israeli soldier, the country's chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi.
But it will not hear from the commandos themselves either.
General Ashkenazi has defended his troops use of lethal fire as they raided a flotilla carrying aid at the end of May.
His evidence contradicted claims by those on board the flotilla that Israeli troops opened fire first.
The general said the commandos started shooting after a soldier was hit by a bullet.
"Today, it is clear to us that, as soon as the first soldier had descended to the ship, the second soldier was shot," he told the enquiry.
"The soldiers opened fire only where necessary."
The general said the second soldier to land opened fire after being shot in the stomach.
"He simply pulled out his gun and shot the shooter," Gen Ashkenazi said.
Immediately after the botched operation, the Israeli military said its troops had been shot with guns seized from them by activists.
It has since claimed there is evidence activists had their own guns.
Turkish doctors who examined the dead said the majority were shot at close range or in the back, disputing Israeli claims they were killed as part of life or death struggles.
Gen Ashkenazi rejected Turkish charges that some of the dead had been shot "execution-style" at point-blank range.
He said: "There was an instance when a soldier was being attacked with an axe. Somebody with an axe... that is life-threatening."
An internal Israeli military investigation concluded the operation was flawed with poor preparation and faulty intelligence.
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