A range of crimes against humanity were committed during the Israeli attack that came on 31 May 2010 in international waters in the Mediterranean. The Mavi Marmara report produced by the UN Fact-finding Mission documents the crimes perpetrated in the Israeli raid. One of the crimes committed following the attack that killed several activists and wounded many others was arbitrary confiscation of personal property of the passengers, all humanitarian supplies onboard the boat and even the vessels in the flotilla themselves, the UN report says. Cash, identification cards, computers and all personal belongings of the passengers were confiscated by Israel. The report concludes that Israel violated passengers’ right to property.
Theft crimes committed by Israel and mentioned in the UN report are:
* Confiscated belongings of the passengers include cash, passports, identification cards, driving licenses, mobile phones, laptop computers, electronic equipment such as MP3 players, photographic cameras and video recorders, credit cards, documents, books and clothes. (UN Report, item 235)
* News articles that appeared in the Israeli media on 20 August 2010 reported that “at least four” Israeli soldiers had been detained and accused of stealing and selling laptop computers belonging to flotilla passengers. (UN Report, item 235)
* A journalist onboard the vessel Sfendoni reported his credit card had been used to shop in Israeli while he was detained in a Beersheba prison and again after he was released. (UN Report, item 235)
* A confiscated credit card of a flotilla passenger was used in Israel for a payment over $1000. (UN Report, item 235)
* The Mission believes the actions of the Israeli authorities in confiscating and in some cases destroying of the private property of hundreds of passengers onboard different vessels in the flotilla constitute violation of the right to property and the freedom of expression. (UN Report, item 245)