Kenya urges Israel convoy raid probe
Demonstrators protest against the Israeli commando raid on a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian relief supplies to the Gaza Strip, outside the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles, California on May 31, 2010. At least 10 and as many as 19 people were killed in the incident on the high seas 70 miles off the Israeli coast. Kenya called for investigation into the incident June 1, 2010.
The Kenya Government has condemned Israel's attack on a convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships and called for an investigation into the incident.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement Tuesday said the government denounced the use of "blatant force" by Israel against the ships that were delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza on Monday.
"The killing of nine members of this humanitarian mission is grossly callous and a brazen violation of international law," said the statement.
On Monday, Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip.
The six-ship flotilla, carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid, left the coast of Cyprus on Sunday and had been due to arrive in Gaza on Monday.
Armed forces boarded the largest vessel overnight, clashing with some of the 500 people on board. It happened about 40 miles (64 km) out to sea, in international waters.
Israel said its soldiers were shot at and attacked with weapons, but the activists refuted the claims saying Israeli troops came on board shooting.
Deplorable incident
"The Government of Kenya expresses deep shock and regret at this tragic loss of civilian lives and calls for a full investigation of this deplorable incident," the Foreign Ministry statement said.
The Ministry said the incident served to reinforce calls "by the international community for Israel to end the blockade of Gaza".
The UN Security Council also issued a statement calling for an impartial inquiry into the raid.
The statement said the investigation should be "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent".
It also condemned the "acts" which led to the deaths of at least 10 civilian activists during the operation.
The raid sparked strong international condemnation and calls for Israel to lift its three-year blockade of Gaza.
The UN statement was reached after hours of discussion as the council deliberated through the night.
Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized power there in 2007.
Israel says it allows about 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza every week, but the UN says this is less than a quarter of what is needed.
