Image by Getty Images

(JTA) — Three Americans and a Belgian are suing Israel in U.S. court for injuries sustained when Israeli naval commandos turned back a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in Washington, the Washington Post reported.

The plaintiffs were aboard the U.S.-flagged Challenger 1, one of the six ships in a May 2010 flotilla that was said to be carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza Palestinians but had a stated goal of breaking the Gaza blockade. According to the suit, the plaintiffs suffered injuries including partial loss of sight from a stun grenade and a broken nose from a rubber bullet.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The Challenger 1 was carrying media equipment and 17 passengers and crew members, according to the Post.

Nine Turks and a Turkish-American were killed on another ship, the Mavi Marmara, during a raid by the commandos.

The plaintiffs are Americans David Schermerhorn and Mary Ann Wright, a retired U.S. diplomat; a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, Huwaida Arraf, and Belgian national Margriet Deknopper.

In November 2014, the International Criminal Court in The Hague closed a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes committed during the Israeli raid on the flotilla. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said any cases relating to Israel’s boarding of the ship “would not be of sufficient gravity to justify further action by the ICC,” but in November she was ordered to consider reopening the Mavi Marmara case.

A United Nations panel found the raid was “excessive and unreasonable,” but said Turkey also was at fault.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount