Gaza flotilla activists allege torture

JERUSALEM, July 1 (UPI) -- A report released Thursday by the international group that sent a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza in May accused Israeli forces of mistreating passengers.

The Israeli military intercepted the Mavi Marmara, a ship in the flotilla, and nine people -- all Turks -- were killed.

The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, or IHH in Turkish initials, claimed Israeli commandos fired automatic weapons at the vessel before boarding and that soldiers dropped from helicopters to the ship's deck fired live bullets, The Jerusalem Post said.

The 42-page report said that once aboard, Israeli forces cut communications, confiscated passports, took humanitarian aid and personal items, and psychologically tortured and physically abused civilians in international waters.

The aid ship was brought to the Israeli military port of Ashod and its cargo unloaded and inspected. Much of the humanitarian relief eventually was trucked to Gaza.

The IHH said the unarmed passengers were killed by shots to the head. The report included a chronology of the raid at sea and computer graphics purporting to detail the Israeli naval operation, the Post said.