Gaza aid flotilla inquiry to question Netanyahu

JERUSALEM, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's defense minister and senior military officials are among those that will testify "soon" before a committee investigating the deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

The committee, made up of retired Israeli Supreme Court justice Yaakov Tirkel, Israeli international law expert Shabtai Rozen, Israeli former Technion university president Amos Horev and two international observers, announced the decision on its first procedural session held in Jerusalem on Monday.

"We are all determined that the inquiry be rigorous and hope that it can, thereby, make a positive contribution to peace," Trimble, who heads the committee, told reporters at a press conference that opened the session.

He said he hoped the committee would conclude its investigation soon.

Eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish-American were killed and dozens injured when an Israeli naval special operations team tried to take over the craft, part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, on May 31.

Israeli navy's operation has aroused criticism from the international community. However, the Jewish state refuses to accept an international investigation over the deadly raid, instead of announcing to set up the internal inquiry panel on June 14.

"I am convinced that revealing the evidence will prove that our aim was an appropriate defense operation of the highest standard," Netanyahu said of the committee upon its formation.

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