Russia and the European Union demand a full and unbiased investigation into Israel's attack on a Gaza-bound convoy of humanitarian aid ships in neutral waters, top Russian and European diplomats said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
"Russia and the European Union demand a full and unbiased investigation of the events and circumstances," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a joint statement.
The two diplomats also called on Israel to immediately allow the free movement of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and people to and from the Palestinian enclave.
Reports say between nine and 19 people were killed and more than 30 injured when Israeli commandos stormed the six-ship Freedom Flotilla carrying some 10,000 tons of aid and 600 human rights activists to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Monday.
Israeli officials maintain that the Israeli soldiers "were forced to defend themselves."
The international community has widely condemned Israel, with Turkey recalling its ambassador.
ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 1 (RIA Novosti)
