Israeli Soldier Charged With Looting Gaza Ship

The Israeli military says a soldier has been charged with looting the lead ship in a Gaza blockade-busting flotilla stopped by Israeli naval commandos in a bloody raid at the end of May.

The military said in a statement that the soldier is accused of stealing equipment from the Mavi Marmara ship after it was towed to an Israeli port.

The statement late Thursday said the soldier's actions "directly contradict the Israeli military's moral standards."

Nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed when raiding Israeli naval commandos were attacked and opened fire. Both sides say they acted in self-defense.

The bloody raid set off an outcry and forced Israel to ease its blockade of Gaza, aimed at weakening Gaza's Hamas rulers and preventing weapons shipments.