A Turkish state prosecutor has launched an investigation into allegations that Israel's offensive in Gaza amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity, based on research of the Islamic-oriented human rights organization Mazlum-Der. The complaint filed by Mazlum-Der names 19 people including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "We submitted the complaint against those who we could prove were in some way responsible for giving orders for the attack on Gaza," said Mazlum-Der attorney Meryem Sari.

Turkey's close military, commercial and diplomatic ties with Israel have been strained since Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan stormed off during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos after telling Shimon Peres "you know very well how to kill." (Reuters, Feb. 6)

Meanwhile, Israeli warships reportedly fired on a Lebanese ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip Feb. 5. The ship carrying 60 tons of medicine, food, toys and books, was intercepted as it sailed towards Gaza from Cyprus on Wednesday afternoon, said the mission's Lebanese aid coordinator, Maan Bashur. "The Brotherhood Ship was fired on by an Israeli military boat 32 kilometers off the coast of Gaza and they were asked to divert course," said Bashour. (Press TV, Feb. 5) The ship was later reported to have been captured by Israeli forces and taken to an unknown location. (Press TV, Feb. 5)

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