Israel: Flotilla interception legal

Turkey: Excessive force was used to attack ship carrying humanitarian aid

JERUSALEM - An Israeli inquiry commission defended the actions of the country's troops during last year's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound protest flotilla sailing from Turkey, finding in a report released on Sunday that Israel had not violated international law.

While offering some criticism of the way the takeover was planned, the commission's conclusions exonerated the government, the military and individual soldiers of wrongdoing. The findings were unlikely to put to rest the international controversy over Israel's actions, which badly damaged its relations with Turkey and led to the formation of a UN investigation.