Ma'an - "Israeli cabinet expands flotilla probe scope"
The Israeli cabinet voted Sunday to expand the jurisdiction of an internal probe into Israel's raid of a Gaza-bound aid ship in international waters on 31 May [in which Israeli commandos killed and injured dozens]. The commission, headed by former justice Jacob Tirkel, will now be allowed to subpoena witnesses and receive sworn testimony, the Israeli prime minister's office said, according to Haaretz.
However, Israeli soldiers will not be questioned as part of the inquiry a move designed maintain the independence of a separate military investigation already underway, the government said.
On Tuesday, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu responded to a request to reconsider the inquiry's jurisdiction after an Israeli High Court petition filed by the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom was delayed until 11 July, during which the committee's activities will be suspended.
The commission was established to investigate the killing of nine Turkish nationals on board the Mavi Marmara by Israeli forces.
Turkey urged Israel to comply with an independent, international investigation into the raid, which Israel refused saying it would not be able to secure an objective outcome.
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