Laura Arau, David Segarra and Manuel Tapial presented for consideration by Judge Pablo Ruz of the National Court an 86-page charge alleging Netanyahu and his aides had committed crimes against humanity in ordering and overseeing the raid.
On June 5, Israeli naval commandos boarded and impounded a Gaza-bound aid vessel with the three Spaniards among those aboard. Nine activists were killed during and after the boarding operation.
Those charged are Netanyahu, defense minister Ehud Barak, foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, interior minister Eli Yishai, deputy prime minister Dan Meridor, strategic affairs minister Moshe Yaalon, senior cabinet minister Benny Begin and navy chief Eli Marom, the Spaniards said.
A court spokesman said Judge Ruz would consider the charges, study whether the case had legal merit and issue a decision in a few days.
The activists said the charges arose from three illegal detentions followed by forced deportations, three cases of torture as well as crimes committed during the boarding of Turkish vessel "Mavi Marmara." Enrique Santiago, a lawyer involved in preparing the charges, said there was still a possibility the charges could be extended to include other Israeli officials involved in what he called a "criminal plan and in its execution." Ruz replaced crusading judge Baltasar Garzon, who became world-famous for cross-border justice cases. Garzon was suspended in May for allegedly overstepping his jurisdiction.
