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UN Security Council condemns Israeli seizure of Gaza aid ships (Update 1)

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The United Nations Security Council condemned on Tuesday Israel's seizure of the Turkish-flagged six-ship Freedom Flotilla and called for an investigation into the incident

The United Nations Security Council condemned on Tuesday Israel's seizure of the Turkish-flagged six-ship Freedom Flotilla and called for an investigation into the incident.

The Council members condemned "acts which resulted" in deaths and approved "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards."

The Security Council also called for Israel to free the vessels and release the people on board the ships.

Kol Israel radio said on Tuesday Israel detained 480 activists from the flotilla captured in its deadly commando raid on the ships, 48 of whom Israel will deport from the country. The radio station reported 45 people are in hospitals in Israel.

"The Council urges Israel to permit full consular access, to allow the countries concerned to retrieve their deceased and wounded immediately, and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance from the convoy to its destination," the statement said.

The council also called the situation in Gaza "not sustainable." The statement stressed it is necessary to ensure a regular flow of goods into the territory.

It also said that the Security Council "takes note of the statement of the UN Secretary-General on the need to hold a full investigation into the matter and calls for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards."

The Israeli military stormed the ships, carrying some 10,000 tons of aid to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and 700 human rights activists in neutral waters in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday.

Nine activists have been confirmed dead but Arab media reports put the toll at close to 20. Dozens were reported injured. The international community has widely condemned Israel, with Turkey recalling its ambassador.

The decision to condemn Israel's actions was taken after 12 hours of consultations at the UN.

On Monday, the international community unanimously condemned what Israeli commandos had done. Protest demonstrations took place in many countries.

Russia also condemned the Israeli raid on the ships in neutral waters that were bringing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Russia's first deputy ambassador to the UN said.

UN, June 1 (RIA Novosti)

 

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