Former Israeli premier Barak sued in US over flotilla raid. Israel slams ‘cynical’ Marmara lawsuit against Barak

The family of a US citizen who was killed during a raid by Israeli troops in 2010 on a Gaza-bound  flotilla are suing former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, claiming unlawful death and torture.

Attorneys representing the Turkish family of Furkan Doğan told AFP that Barak was served papers in the civil case late Oct. 20 after giving a speech at an event near Los Angeles.

Doğan, a US citizen born in New York, was among nine people killed in the raid on six Turkish boats that had been attempting to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.

Israel at the time said that it had sent repeated warnings to the flotilla before launching the raid.

The incident soured once-close relations between Israel and Turkey.

"On board the Mavi Marmara, Israeli forces extinguished the life of a 19-year-old boy holding a video camera," said Hakan Camuz, a representative of Doğan's family.

"He was shot five times. The last shot was to his head at point blank range. He deserves justice." 

A UN panel that reviewed the case determined that the raid was "excessive and unreasonable" but also laid blame on Turkey.

The human rights lawyers that filed the suit against Barak have also been pushing the Hague-based International Criminal Court to investigate the incident.

"From Nuremberg and Tokyo to the Balkans, Rwanda and Sierra Leone, there is a tradition around the world of holding military leaders accountable for their crimes against civilians," said attorney Rodney Dixon.

"Casting that tradition aside mocks justice and gives political and military leaders free reign to wield violence indiscriminately." 

Barak or members of his entourage could not be immediately reached for comment.
 AFP
mme.tr
22/10/15
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• Israel slams ‘cynical’ Marmara lawsuit against Barak...

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday slammed a US lawsuit against former defense minister Ehud Barak over a 2010 raid on a Gaza flotilla as another attempt at a “cynical attack” on Israel using legal means.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said he was certain that the US “would not lend its hand” to the lawsuit, Israel Radio reported.
 mme.il
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Related:

• Avigdor Lieberman: Israeli apology to Turkey 'enormous mistake'

• German MP slams Turkish decision to skip Munich conference due to Israel

• Israel brings home families of diplomats in Turkey (following violent protests outside the embassies)

• Israel and Turkey resume conciliation talks 

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Related:

• Israeli ambassador warns UN chief of dangerous consequences of Gaza-bound flotilla