JERUSALEM: Israel decided on Tuesday to free hundreds of foreign activists detained aboard a Turkish-backed aid flotilla to Gaza, including some it had threatened to put on trial, two political sources said, reports Reuters.
The sources said cabinet ministers decided amid rising world protests against Israel's raid of the flotilla on Monday in which nine people died, that some 680 activists seized on the boats would be released.
“It was agreed that the detainees would be deported immediately,” Nir Hefez, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a written statement to reporters.
US moves cautiously on Israel flotilla crisis
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday called for “careful, thoughtful” responses to Israel's attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla, ignoring Turkey's demands for outright condemnation of the deadly assault.
Clinton, speaking amid a crisis that has poisoned ties between two close US allies and could imperil moves to relaunch the Middle East peace process, indicated the United States would not quickly join the international outcry against Israel over Monday's attack.
“I think the situation from our perspective is very difficult and requires careful, thoughtful responses from all concerned,” Clinton said hours after meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who had demanded Washington take a clear stand against Israel's actions.
Clinton reiterated US support for a UN Security Council statement on Monday that condemned acts leading to the deaths of civilians in Monday's attack and called for an impartial investigation.
“We support an Israeli investigation that meets those criteria. We are open to different ways of ensuring a credible investigation including international participation,” Clinton said, without elaborating.
Davutoglu earlier told reporters that Turkey — an important US ally on issues ranging from Middle East peace to the war in Afghanistan — was disappointed that the United States had not offered stronger backing.
“Some of our allies are not ready to condemn the Israeli actions,” Davutoglu said, comparing the incident to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
“We expect full solidarity with us,” he said. “It should not be a choice between Turkey and Israel. It should be a choice between right and wrong.”
International fury over the flotilla attack has created a tough balancing act for the Obama administration, particularly with Turkey, a key Nato ally seen by Washington as a secular Muslim power that can counter Islamic militancy in the region.
Clinton stressed deep US regret for the loss of life and injuries and said the United States would work with both Turkey and Israel to deal with the aftermath of the incident.
She also urged Israel to permit full consular access to the individuals involved and to allow countries to retrieve their deceased and wounded immediately.
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