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Israel admits flotilla 'mistakes' Israel admits flotilla 'mistakes'
(40 minutes later)
The aid flotilla was trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza StripThe aid flotilla was trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip
Israel's military operation against a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was undermined by mistakes at a senior level, a military report has concluded. An Israeli military probe into the naval raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla says commandos were under-prepared and mistakes were made at a senior level.
The Israeli probe into the operation criticises intelligence gathering and forward planning, reports say. The report says the use of force was the only way to stop the flotilla, but the operation suffered from flawed intelligence and inadequate planning.
Commanders also relied too heavily on one single plan, Israel says. Commanders also relied too heavily on a single plan, Israel says.
The aid flotilla was trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip when it was intercepted on 31 May. Nine activists died. Eight Turks and one Turkish-American died in the naval raid in international waters, which provoked a major outcry.
Retired general Giora Eiland, who chaired the panel tasked with scrutinising the operation, presented the results of the investigation to media in Tel Aviv. The report criticised a lack of co-ordination between military and intelligence bodies and it said preparations for the 31 May takeover of the ships were inadequate.
"Mistakes were made in the various decisions taken, including within relatively senior ranks, which contributed to the result not being as we would have wished," he said, reports news agency AFP. As they dropped from helicopters on to the deck of one vessel, the Mavi Marmara, Israeli forces were met with a violent reception, from some of those on board who were armed with clubs and knives and at least one gun, found the report.
As he presented the findings to media in Tel Aviv, retired general Giora Eiland, who chaired the panel tasked with scrutinising the operation, said the use of force had been necessary.
But he added: "Mistakes were made in the various decisions taken, including within relatively senior ranks, which contributed to the result not being as we would have wished," reports news agency AFP.
"In this inquiry we found that there were some professional mistakes regarding both the intelligence and the decision-making process.""In this inquiry we found that there were some professional mistakes regarding both the intelligence and the decision-making process."
This is the first of two inquiries and looks at the military aspects of the operation. The wider ramifications - political and legal - will be examined in another inquiry.
Israel has resisted calls for a UN-led inquiry into the raid, saying it would be biased.
The operation prompted an international backlash and has severely strained Israel's relations with its once-close Muslim ally Turkey.
Amid the criticism, Israel eased its land blockade on the Gaza Strip, allowing most civilian goods through.
The naval blockade remains in place. Israel says it is necessary to keep weapons from reaching the Islamist Hamas movement, which controls Gaza.