IDF probe finds 'operational mistakes' in Gaza flotilla boarding
Monday, July 12, 2010
By: ICEJ News

Libyan blockade runner nearing Gaza coast

Maj.-Gen Giora Eiland (res.) on Monday presented IDF chief-of-staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi with a 100-page report detailing the findings of his internal military probe into the May 31st Gaza flotilla incident, which concludes that Israeli commanders and forces committed “operational mistakes” rather than “failures” in their seizure of the hostile flagship Mavi Marmara.

A series of operational and intelligence mistakes left the Israel naval forces unprepared for the violent reception awaiting them aboard the Turkish passenger ship, where dozens of armed Muslim militants were determined to break the IDF’s sea blockade of Gaza or die trying. Nine Turkish nationals were killed and 10 elite Israeli commandos were injured in the ensuing melee.

A former IDF commander and top national security adviser, Eiland listed a number of “mistakes” made in the planning and operational phases of the raid, but was clear to distinguish them from “operational failures.” He criticized the Navy for not having a “Plan B” ready when they noticed several dozen activists on the ship’s upper decks armed with clubs, pipes and readying for conflict.

Eiland’s probe also found that shots were initially fired at the boarding commandos from weapons that the passengers likely had prepared beforehand. A slug dislodged from the knee of one IDF soldier was of a different caliber than that which is used by the Navy, he found.

He also detailed the events that led to the abduction of three commandos, who were thrown from the upper to the lower deck and were only recovered about 40 minutes later after they were spotted standing wounded on the ship’s bow and surrounded by a number of passengers. The Navy commandos opened fire from above and scared off the passengers, enabling two of the wounded to jump into the water. The third, who was severely wounded, was then rescued by other commandos who jumped down to the bow from the upper deck.

Eiland also flagged the IDF’s Military Intelligence branch for not designating Turkey or the Islamic organization IHH which organized the flotilla as targets for intelligence gathering. He said that this was justified up until recently, since Turkey was a friendly country to Israel. But as ties between the countries have deteriorated since the beginning of this year, Turkey and IHH should have been fair game for spying activities, he claimed.

The Eiland report comes as Israel’s navy has been put on high alert as of Sunday for the arrival of a Libyan ship sailing from Greece via Cyprus with anti-Israel activists and cargo hoping to break the Gaza arms blockade. The ship is being tracked by the navy, which expects it to make a direct approach rather than heading to the nearby Egyptian port of El-Arish. Security forces are preparing to board the ship if necessary, and will not use paintball guns as they did in the Mavi Maramara incident.

A charity directed by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, is funding the ship and is scheduled to approach Gaza on Wednesday. Libyan authorities are reportedly trying to prevent the son from reaching to vessel by private flight to Cyprus.

In related news, Islamic lawyers from 60 countries will gather in Istanbul on Thursday to prepare a legal suit against Israel for its attack on the Gaza flotilla, possibly for submittal to the International Criminal Court in Den Haag.

Finally, Germany on Monday banned the Turkish charity IHH for using donations to fund Hamas-linked projects in Gaza while reporting their projects to donors as humanitarian aid. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere explained that, "under the guise of humanitarian aid… donations to so-called social welfare groups belonging to Hamas, such as the millions given by IHH, actually support the terror organization Hamas as a whole." Hamas does not acknowledge the State of Israel and organizations that oppose Israel’s right to exist will not be allowed to remain active in Germany, said De Maiziere.