French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner sharply criticised Israel on Wednesday for the bloody interception of the international aid flotilla for Gaza, but said it was too early to consider any sanctions, DPA reported.
On the private broadcaster RTL, Kouchner called the Israeli military action a "serious mistake." But he also criticised the flotilla: "The idea of the aid action was also questionable."
Kouchner said sanctions could not yet be considered. "The most important thing is that there now be independent, credible investigations," he said.
He said he trusted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would get such investigations launched as quickly as possible.
Regarding nine French nationals still being held in Israel, Kouchner said he was confident they would soon return to France, and said that they were being held "under acceptable conditions."
Kouchner's remarks come a day after President Nicolas Sarkozy accused Israel with using inappropriate force against the aid flotilla and called the incident a genuine tragedy.