Former naval commando who participated in deadly clashes aboard a Gaza-bound Turkish ship in 2010 claims a photo of the incident revealed his identity, forcing him to cancel plans to study abroad out of fear that terror organizations would target him for revenge.
The takeover of the Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010
|
Photo credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit |
A former Shayetet 13 naval commando who participated in the interception of the Mavi Marmara in May 2010 has filed a lawsuit seeking 800,000 shekels from the Defense Ministry for damages he claimed were caused to him by the release of his photo to media outlets in Turkey and throughout the world.
In May 2010, Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish activist ship headed for Gaza in protest of the Israeli blockade. The commandos were met with violence aboard the ship, and killed nine Turkish activists in the ensuing clash. A photo of the incident, depicting the complainant among others, was subsequently published in an array of publications.
According to the suit, filed with the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, the claimant decided not to study overseas as he had previously planned, out of fear that terrorist organizations would target him for revenge.
Investigations conducted by the Israel Navy and the Shayetet 13 elite naval commando unit following the interception of the Gaza-bound ship, which was part of a larger protest flotilla, found that the faces of three commandos had been exposed during the operation, despite the fact that they boarded the ship with their faces covered.
The Israel Defense Forces is concerned that Turkey may try to take legal action against the soldiers whose identities have been exposed.
The former commando's lawsuit was brought to the attention of Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Danny Efroni, as well as Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein and the State Prosecutor's Office.
Ten Shayetet 13 commandos were hurt in the Mavi Marmara clash, three seriously and three moderately.
