Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, the largest ship in a flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s siege on Gaza in May 2010, leaving nine pro-Palestinian activists dead, according to AFP.

The 144-page indictment called for each of the four Israeli commanders to get nine life sentences after the prosecutor reportedly heard the testimonies of nearly 600 witnesses, which included passengers aboard the ship and the relatives of victims as part of the investigation, according to Anatolia.

Last September the United Nations issued a statement in which it accused Israel of acting with “excessive force” in the operation but it endorsed the legality of Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, which Israel says is necessary to prevent the Islamist movement Hamas, from obtaining weapons.

The date for the trial is not yet announced, but it would be held in the absence of the accused, Israel having ruled out any prosecution of those who took part in the attack.

Turkey demanded a formal apology but Israel refused to make a formal apology and pay conpensation to families of the dead. As a result, expelled Jerusalem’s ambassador from Ankara. Diplomatic ties were severely downgraded, and have remained impaired ever since.