An Israeli Navy-supplied image of the contested boarding of the Mavi Marmara.

An Israeli Navy-supplied image of the contested boarding of the Mavi Marmara. Photo: AP/Israel Defence Force

JERUSALEM: The anticipated publication of a United Nations report on violence aboard a Gaza-bound protest flotilla last year has led to a further souring of the relationship between Israel and Turkey, after Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador.

Turkey expelled the envoy and suspended military co-operation yesterday after insisting on an Israeli apology by the time the report is published.

Israel says there will be no apology. Its officials say the report does not demand an Israeli apology, saying instead that Israel should express regret and pay reparations.

An Israeli official said yesterday that the report showed Israel's actions were in keeping with international law. The official said Israel hoped the two countries could now ''return to the co-operation that was a cornerstone of regional stability''.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because the report had yet to be officially released.

The 105-page report says that Israel has a legal right to maintain a naval blockade of Gaza but called on the Israeli government to publicly express ''regret'' for the deaths and injuries on the Mavi Marmara, where the most violent clashes occurred, and to compensate the families of the nine dead - eight Turks and an American of Turkish descent.

The flotilla was organised in Turkey, and the raid on it in May 2010 threatened to torpedo relations between Israel and Turkey. The UN report said the Israeli government had failed to provide a ''satisfactory explanation'' as to how and why the nine passengers were killed in the raid.

''Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range, has not been adequately accounted for in the material presented by Israel,'' it concluded.

Israel has rejected a Turkish demand it apologise for the deaths, despite pressure from Washington to do so.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, established the panel in a bid to help reconcile differing accounts of the incident from Israel and Turkey and to help repair the strained diplomatic ties between the countries. The authors of the report were Sir Geoffrey Palmer, a former New Zealand prime minister, Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe and a representative each from Israel and Turkey.

The report concluded that ''Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza'' and had imposed the naval blockade ''as a legitimate security measure'' to prevent weapons from entering the strip by sea.

Israeli commandos ''faced significant, organised and violent resistance from a group of passengers when they boarded the Mavi Marmara, requiring them to use force for their own protection'', the report found.

Still, it said: ''Israel's decision to board the vessels with such substantial force at a great distance from the blockade zone and with no final warning immediately prior to the boarding was excessive and unreasonable. The loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force by Israeli forces during the takeover of the Mavi Marmara was unacceptable.''

Turkey's representative to the panel, Suleyman Ozdem Sanberk, a former ambassador to the European Union and Britain, submitted a letter registering ''disagreement'' with several of the report's conclusions, including its finding that the naval blockade is legal.

THE PANEL'S FINDINGS

Both Israel and flotilla participants were rebuked in the investigation.

Israel's intervention to stop the flotilla was legal.

Israel's decision to board the vessels with such substantial force at a great distance from the blockade zone and with no final warning immediately prior to the boarding was excessive and unreasonable.

Most of the flotilla participants had no violent intentions, however, the flotilla acted recklessly in trying to breach the naval blockade. There are serious questions about the conduct, true nature and objectives of the flotilla organisers.

Israeli soldiers faced ''significant, organised and violent resistance'' from a group of passengers on the vessel.

Forensic evidence indicated the dead were shot ''multiple times'', including in the back or at close range.

It is important that an appropriate statement of regret be made by Israel in respect of the incident in light of its consequences.

Israel should offer payment for the benefit of the deceased and injured victims and their families.

Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Bloomberg