Britain wants international Israel inquiry
Monday, 7 June 2010 12:00 AM
Britain and France have issued a joint demand for an international presence on a probe into the Israeli military's raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship.
In a joint statement following their meeting in Paris foreign secretary William Hague and French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner called for a "credible and transparent investigation" into the incident, which has attracted sweeping international condemnation.
The pair argued an inquiry with several countries involved was justified because the clash, which saw the deaths of nine pro-Palestinian activists, featured citizens of a number of states.
"We believe there should be an international presence at minimum in that inquiry or investigation," Mr Hague and Mr Kouchner said.
Tensions in the region remain high following the event. Earlier today at least four Palestinians were killed after an Israeli navy patrol opened fire on a boat carrying six people wearing diving gear off the coast of Gaza.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the Palestinians killed in the early hours of Monday had been planning a "terror attack".
Israel is likely to reject calls for an international inquiry by arguing that countries like the US would not want to see an inquiry into their conduct during the war in Afghanistan.
Binyamin Netanyahu is holding an emergency Cabinet session to discuss his government's options, however.
Yesterday Britain announced it would provide £19 million to help support schools and health clinics for Gazan refugees.
International development secretary Andrew Mitchell called the ongoing Gaza blockade "unacceptable and unsustainable", echoing previous language from Mr Hague.
The money will go to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which supplies around 70% of Gazans with basic services and three-quarters with food handouts.
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