国际英语新闻：Israel releases investigation result on Gaza flotilla incident

JERUSALEM, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Turkel Commission, an Israeli panel which probed a Israeli naval raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip last May, on Sunday afternoon cleared Israel of any wrongdoing in the affair.

The panel determined that Israel's maritime blockade of the enclave, as well as its military action to stop the Turkish vessel from breaching it, were in accordance with international law.

In a 30-minute televised press conference, former Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel read the highlights of a 300-page report submitted to the UN panel which is conducting an investigation of its own on the incident.

"Nonetheless, and despite the limited number of uses of force on which we could not reach a conclusion, the actions taken were found to be legal pursuant to the rules of international law," the report read.

The document was the first part of the committee's investigation, and examined the legality of the naval blockade imposed on the Strip and of the actions taken by the Israeli military to enforce it. It also focused on the actions and identities of the organizers and participants of the Turkish-led flotilla.

The second part, which will be submitted at a later date, will address whether Israel's investigation mechanisms are consistent with international law.