Update: Turkey Seeks Life Sentences for Israeli Commanders Over Ship Raid

UPDATE: A court in Istanbul has approved the indictments against four Israeli military officials for their involvement in the 2010 fatal ship raid in Gaza. In response, a senior Israeli official said the Turkish government had apparently decided to kill what was left of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, reports the New York Times.

Istanbul’s Seventh Criminal Court unanimously accepted the 144-page indictment prepared by the prosecutor. They are seeking life terms for the former chief of staff of the Israeli military, the former naval forces commander, the former military intelligence chief, and the former head of air force intelligence, as well as prison terms totaling up to 18,000 years for other crimes that the prosecutor says were committed during the raid.

All four commanders have since retired from the military. The indictment means that the four former military figures cannot set foot in Turkey, but Israeli officials said they could still travel to other countries in safety since Turkey has not issued international warrants for their arrest yet.

Turkey also maintains that until an apology is made, there is no relationship left to damage.

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In relation to the 2010 seizure of a ship bound for Gaza where nine (9) Turks were killed, a Turkish prosecutor is now seeking life sentences for four Israeli commanders involved.

Israel’s military chief of staff during the time of the raid, as well as three other military personnel, will be tried as fugitive defendants. The prosecution will file the indictment after final approval from a chief attorney; it called for 10 life sentences to be given to each of the four commanders.

Routes of the Gaza-bound flotilla (green) and the Israeli Navy (orange)

The 144-page document charges that Israeli officials deliberately killed, wounded and tortured the pro-Palestinian activists who sought to end the embargo. Testimony from some 600 people, including 490 passengers from the six-ship flotilla and relatives of those who had died is included in the indictment as well.

Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara aid vessel in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israel said its marines had been attacked by activists wielding metal bars, clubs and knives when they boarded the Mavi Marmara and had opened fire in self-defense, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The MV Mavi Marmara

Demonstration in Gothenburg, Sweden, against the Israeli attack on ship to Gaza May 31st 2010