The United Nations on Monday confirmed that the release of a UN report on a deadly Israeli raid that killed nine Turks aboard a pro-Palestinian activist ship last year would be postponed until late August. UN spokesman Martin Nesirky gave no specific date for the much-delayed report, which Israeli officials said on Sunday was now expected on August 20, a Saturday.
UN officials had originally suggested the report by a four-man inquiry panel could be finalised in February, then April and most recently, in late July. Asked about the latest statements by Israeli officials, Nesirky told reporters: "The members of the flotilla panel agreed to delay finalising the report until later in the month of August." He gave no reason for the delay.
The UN report on the May 2010 Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara as it tried to breach the blockade on the Gaza Strip at the head of an aid flotilla has become a headache for Israel, which has been resisting Turkish demands for an apology. Turkey, which like Israel had a delegate on the UN inquiry panel led by former New Zealand prime minister Geoffrey Palmer, has yet to sign the report and envoys of Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu have been in bilateral talks with Ankara in hopes of bridging their rifts on the issue.