ICRC DEPLORES ISRAEL’S MILITARY OPPS CAUSING CIVILIAN CASUALTIES

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Bernama) -- The International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC) "strongly deplores" the tragic loss of civilian lives and the
injuries resulting from Israel's military operation on Monday against the Gaza
aid Flotilla.

The high number of casualties raised serious questions concerning the
methods and means used by the Israel Defence Forces to prevent the flotilla from
proceeding to Gaza, the ICRC said on its website Wednesday.

According to media reports, at least 19 were killed and dozens were
injured by the Israeli assault.

"Our priority now is to check on the condition and whereabouts of the people
wounded and of those detained by the Israeli authorities," said Pierre Wettach,
the ICRC's head of delegation in Israel and the occupied territories.

The ICRC, which has a regional office here, has also offered to
serve as a neutral intermediary on behalf of citizens from countries that have
no diplomatic relations with Israel, who are protected by the Fourth Geneva
Convention.



"We have been granted access to dozen of activists from the convoy of ships
now being held by the Israeli authorities, and we are re-establishing contact
with their families," Wettach said.

The ICRC said that Gazans continued to suffer the effects of siege-induced
poverty and warfare, pointing out that the closure imposed on Gaza three years
ago and the effects of Israel's military operation in the Strip in January 2009
are crippling the entire economy.

It stressed that humanitarian aid alone could not address the massive needs
in Gaza, where civilians are paying the price of the blockade and ongoing
hostilities.

The ICRC urges Israel to lift the closure and calls upon States, political
authorities and the organised armed groups concerned to do what is necessary to
reopen the Gaza Strip and safeguard the lives and dignity of its civilian
population.

Israel has ordered the deportation of 682 activists from
more than 35 countries captured aboard the flotilla of ships seized en route to
the Palestinian enclave, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2006.

The 12 Malaysian volunteers who were on board the aid ship attacked by the
Israelis are now safe and currently travelling by road to Amman, Jordan.

-- BERNAMA