Israel says UN chief moving ahead with international investigation of deadly Israeli raid

UN chief moving ahead with probe of Israeli raid

JERUSALEM — Israel says U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon is moving ahead with plans for an international commission to investigate Israel’s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

A Foreign Ministry official says Ban wants former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer to head the panel, which would include Israeli, Turkish and U.S. representatives. All nine people killed in last week’s raid were Turks.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Ban has not officially announced his plans.

Israel has resisted an external investigation, but pressure is mounting because of outrage over the deaths.

On Saturday, Israel took over another aid ship without incident. The Interior Ministry says all 19 activists and crew will be deported Sunday.