Israel to release critical report on flotilla raid

Jul 12, 2010 5:22 a.m.

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Defense officials say Israel's first internal report on the deadly raid against a Gaza-bound flotilla will criticize the planning and intelligence-gathering that preceded the operation.

The report commissioned by the military is to be released later Monday. The officials say it is not expected to fault the commandos who opened fire after being confronted by pro-Palestinian activists on board one of the ships. The officials are familiar with the report but spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not yet been released.

The deadly raid provoked an international outcry that led to an easing of Israel's land blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The naval blockade remains. Israel has resisted calls for a U.N.-led inquiry into the raid.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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