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Witnesses claim Israeli evidence tampering on Mavi Marmara
The ships, part of an international aid flotilla attempting break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, were raided by Israeli commandos on May 31. Eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed by the on the Mavi Marmara. Israel insists the commandos, none of whom were killed, acted in self-defense and that the aid mission was an act of provocation. The Turkish charity group that owns the Mavi Marmara, the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), and other activists reject Israeli charges and say Israeli authorities should be prosecuted for attacking civilians in international waters.
Two journalists who were among the Mavi Marmara passengers when the raid took place told reporters after visiting the ship late on Monday that there were signs that Israel attempted to conceal evidence. “Israeli soldiers have disinfected the ship. They have even cleaned the toilets,” one of the journalists, Mediha Olgun of Sabah, said. “The ship was cleaner than we had expected. But we saw bullets and empty magazines,” the other journalist, Halil Bilce of Star, noted. The two journalists were allowed into the ship as witnesses.
 Prosecutors and police inspect the Mavi Marmara aid vessel. |
A lawyer who had also been among the Mavi Marmara passengers said she saw broken glass, baby dolls that had been intended for Gazan children, and dozens of bullet marks. “I was there during the attack. The floor was slippery with blood,” she added.
One lawyer who was allowed onto the ship said inspectors found a waistcoat that belonged to one of the nine victims, Cengiz Akyüz, with a bullet mark on it. The mark suggested he was shot at a close range, the lawyer, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed.
The Mavi Marmara and the two other ships have been docked at the Mediterranean port of İskenderun since Saturday. The criminal investigation began late on Monday following an inspection for possible explosives that may have been left on board.
Three prosecutors led by İskenderun Chief Public Prosecutor Mustafa Ercan, police crime scene investigation teams and lawyers representing İHH participated in the inspection on Tuesday.
“We are currently collecting evidence for our future legal campaign,” said Ramazan Arıtürk, a lawyer for families of the Mavi Marmara victims, told a press conference on Monday. He said a group of 62 lawyers from 50 countries were working on preparations for future legal actions against Israel, including an appeal to the International Criminal Court. “Our initial inspection on the ship shows that some of the marks of bullets fired not from on board but from outside the ship were covered over and painted,” he said.
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