France wants Flotilla activists freed

France has urged the immediate launch of an inquiry into the “disproportionate” Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy, Freedom Flotilla.

The Israeli navy attacked the aid Flotilla in pre-dawn attacks on Monday, which killed at least 20 civilians and wounded dozens of others.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy slammed the deadly raid as a ‘predictable catastrophe,’ and called for an investigation conducted by the United Nations or the International Red Cross.

“The inquiry must be impartial, credible, transparent and conform to international criteria,” AFP quoted Sarkozy as saying on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon demanded the “immediate release” of civilian activist held by Israel after storming the aid ships.

“France demands the immediate liberation of the boats and all the civilians who were aboard,” Fillon told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The Freedom Flotilla, a convoy of nine ships carrying humanitarian aid for the impoverished people of Gaza, sought to reach Palestinians trapped in the densely-populated coastal enclave which has been under a tight Israeli blockade for the past three years.

Amid the international condemnation of the attack, Israel’s European allies have summoned its ambassadors and frozen military ties with the regime.