UN proposes Palmer to head Gaza inquiry

Sir Geoffrey Palmer. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Former New Zealand prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has been proposed to head an inquiry into the raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla a week ago.

The committee of inquiry members would include representatives from the United States, Turkey and Israel, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported today.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Murray McCully would only say it was up to the United Nations to announce any panel they put together.

"We are aware that the UN is looking at the possibility of a panel being formed to look at [the incident]," he said.

Nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli marines stormed a Turkish ship a week ago as a flotilla moved to breach the blockade to supply aid to residents in Gaza. New Zealander Nicola Enchmarch was among the passengers and crew who were captured and detained in Israeli custody before being deported.

Reuters reported the head of Turkey's state forensics laboratory said autopsy results on the nine Turkish activists killed in last Monday's raid showed they had been shot a total of 30 times, many at close range. Five were killed by gunshots to the head, he said.

Twenty-four people were still in a hospital in Ankara, including seven in critical condition, according to physicians.

Sir Geoffrey is New Zealand's Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission and is an expert on maritime law.

Haaretz said United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon conveyed the proposal to Israel about a week ago.

The inquiry's scope has not yet been defined but it is certain to consider whether Israel's takeover of the ship the Mavi Marmara contravened international law.

Senior officials at the Israeli Foreign Ministry told the newspaper Israel should consider the idea favourably because Turkey will probably oppose it.

"Such a committee will reveal many details about the link between [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, the flotilla organisers and the IHH," a senior official said.

He was referring to a Turkish Islamic nongovernmental organisation that reportedly has ties to terror groups. "If the mandate is reasonable and does not include questioning IDF soldiers, such a committee could remove the sting from the affair and neutralise similar future flotillas." the official said.

Israel's Government is said to be leaning towards allowing an examination without the questioning of Israel defence Forces soldiers.

Another ship attempted to reach Gaza yesterday but was stopped without incident and crew and passengers would be deported.

- NZPA