MADRID
Spain’s National Court judge has advised the country’s government to submit the case of the 2010 Israeli attack on the Turkish-flagged aid flotilla to Gaza to the International Criminal Court.
Judge Jose de la Mata was forced to close the investigation into the case of the Israeli commandos’ attack on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara aid flotilla, due to Spain’s legislative reforms in March 2014, restricting courts’ powers in international trials.
Two Spanish activists and a journalist, who were on the Mavi Marmara and then detained by Israeli authorities, filed a case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and six other ministers, accusing them of illegal arrest, torture and deportation.
Mata said Thursday that he would send all documents involving the case to the Ministry of Justice in order for the Spanish government to file its complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“I will be able to start the trial again if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli ministers set foot on Spanish soil,” he told reporters.
The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, opened a preliminary investigation in May 2013 against Israel.
However, in November 2014, the court decided not to investigate, saying the case “would not be of sufficient gravity to justify further action by the ICC."
Six civilian ships in the humanitarian aid flotilla were attacked in international waters by Israeli forces on May 31, 2010, as they tried to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Nine Turkish citizens were killed and 30 others injured, including one who died nearly four years after being critically injured in the attack.
