Knives found aboard the “humanitarian” voyage. (IDF)
Apparently desperate for press and exposure, the anti-Israel boycott movement made up a report that South African authorities were pursuing Israeli officials for alleged war crimes.
South African authorities denied on Tuesday reports that they have issued arrests warrants against four former senior IDF officers in connection with the so-called “Freedom Flotilla” of ships from Turkey attempting to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2010.
“There is no truth to this. No arrest warrants have been issued for any of the people mentioned‚” National police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi told the South African Times Live. “We have checked with our Interpol and our Crimes Against The State officials and they deny any such thing.”
The police’s official statement is contrary to claims made earlier on Tuesday by the members of the South African branch of anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement that such warrants have been issued by South Africa’s authorities, and that this constitutes a victory over Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decried BDS’ ploy, directing the Foreign Ministry to urgently respond to their “provocative and ugly attempt to use the South African judicial system to advance a hostile and illegitimate position.”
The incident in question relates to the IDF’s storming of the Gaza-bound Turkish Mavi Marmara as it was violating Israel’s sovereignty.
The Mavi Marmara was part of a flotilla of vessels traveling to Gaza, ostensibly to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies, but in reality it was simply an attempt to defy Israel’s sovereignty and was meant to support the Palestinian Hamas terror organization, which rules Gaza. The only humanitarian aid found on board were boxes of expired medications.
IDF forces boarded the ship and were viciously assaulted. They killed 10 Turkish nationals while defending themselves, and several IDF soldiers suffered wounds as well.
Anti-Israel elements have since been waging an international legal battle to have Israeli leaders indicted for alleged war crimes, with only marginal success.
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor recently announced she would not pursue a case against Israel over the incident, despite repetitive requests by various pro-Palestinian entities.
However, a Spanish court on Sunday reissued old arrest warrants against six Israeli leaders, including against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel