BBC news with Iain Purdon.
An Israeli military report on the commando raid on a flotilla of aidships heading for the Gaza Strip in May has heavily criticized the
tactic
s and method used. Nine Turkish activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed one ship in the flotilla as it tried to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Adam Mynott reports from Tel Aviv.
“Israeli commandos were
underprepared
for what awaited them as they dropped from helicopters onto the deck of one vessel of Mavi Marmara. And mistakes were made.” These are the central findings of the report prepared by major general Giora Eiland. This is the first of two inquires and looks at the military aspects of the operation. Wider, political and legal
ramification
s will be examined in another inquiry. General Eiland said that the use of force was the only way to stop the flotilla.
Israeli commandos and coastguards boarded the Mavi Marmara, he said, and were met with a
hostile
and violent reception from some of those on board armed with clubs and knives and at least one gun.
Switzerland has said it will not
extradite
the film director Roman Polanski to the United States.The announcement comes ten months after Swiss police arrested Mr. Polanski at the request of the American authorities. They had wanted him extradited in relation to charges that he had sex with a 13-year-old girl 30 years ago.