Israel: Use of live fire justified

An Israeli military investigation into the raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid ships, has concluded that "the use of live fire" that killed nine activists "was justified". The investigation, conducted by an army committee, also found that mistakes were made "at quite a senior level" but did not recommend punishments for any of the officers involved in the May 31 raid. "The team determined that the Navy Commando soldiers operated properly, with professionalism, bravery and resourcefulness and that the commanders exhibited correct decision making," the Israeli army said in a statement on Monday. Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi, the Israeli army chief of staff, said in a statement that he accepted the report's conclusions. IHH, the Turkish group which organized the flotilla, criticized the report's conclusions, particularly the claim that the Israeli army was justified in using live ammunition.