An Israeli Navy admiral has provided explosive testimony, stating that he ordered a second missile strike on a Gaza-bound aid boat in 2010 because he perceived the survivors of the initial attack as "legitimate targets." This revelation comes from a recently revealed military investigation into the deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship part of a humanitarian flotilla attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The Fateful Order and Its Justification
The incident, which occurred on May 31, 2010, resulted in the deaths of 10 Turkish activists and sparked a major international crisis. According to the investigation documents, the admiral, identified as Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom, was the commander of the Israeli Navy at the time. After an initial, chaotic confrontation where Israeli commandos faced violent resistance upon boarding the ship, Marom made the critical decision to authorize further force.
From his position on a nearby navy ship, Marom observed the unfolding situation. He testified that he saw individuals on the Mavi Marmara who appeared to be moving the bodies of wounded or unconscious Israeli soldiers towards the stern of the vessel. Interpreting this as a hostile act of capturing soldiers, Marom stated he believed those individuals posed a continuing threat. He therefore sanctioned a second strike using precision, small-caliber munitions fired from an aircraft, targeting the specific area where he believed the threat was located.
Investigation Findings and Contradictions
The internal Israeli military investigation, whose findings were not fully publicized until now, delved deeply into the admiral's actions. While it did not recommend any criminal charges against Marom, it also did not fully endorse his decision-making process. The probe found that his perception of events from a distance was "incomplete" and that the reality on the deck of the Mavi Marmara was more complex and chaotic than he could ascertain.
Critically, the investigation concluded that there was no intentional effort by the activists to abduct Israeli soldiers. The movement of the wounded commandos was likely part of the frantic and violent melee rather than a coordinated kidnapping attempt. This finding directly challenges the core justification provided by Admiral Marom for ordering the lethal second strike against individuals he deemed combatants.
Aftermath and Lasting Repercussions
The fallout from the Mavi Marmara raid was severe and long-lasting. It caused a dramatic rupture in diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey, once close regional allies. Turkey demanded a formal apology and compensation for the families of the deceased, demands Israel initially refused. Relations remained frozen for years.
The newly revealed testimony from Admiral Marom is likely to reignite debate over the rules of engagement and the use of force in complex, civilian-mixed environments. Human rights organizations have long criticized the raid as a disproportionate use of force. This admission that survivors of an initial attack were considered valid military targets raises profound legal and ethical questions under international law regarding the principle of distinction and the treatment of persons hors de combat (out of combat).
The story underscores the enduring legacy of the Gaza blockade and the deadly lengths to which Israel has been willing to go to enforce it. The details from the investigation provide a stark, behind-the-scenes look at the split-second decisions made in the fog of a confrontation that continues to shape geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean.
