"
Israel acknowledged the following facts without qualification:
a. USS Liberty was an American ship, hence a neutral vis-Ã -vis the June
1967 war between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
8
b. USS Liberty remained in international waters at all times on June 8, 1967
9
.
c. The attacking Israeli forces never made a positive identification of the nationality of USS Liberty before unleashing deadly force in their attack on
the ship.
10
At approximately 0600 hours (all times local) on the morning of June 8, 1967 an Israeli maritime reconnaissance aircraft observer reported seeing 'a US Navy cargo type
ship,' just outside the coverage of the Israeli coastal radar defense net, bearing the hull
markings 'GTR-5'.
11
"This report, made to Israeli naval HQ, was also forwarded immediately to the Israeli navy intelligence directorate..."
"Throughout the remainder of the day prior to the attack, Israeli reconnaissance aircraft regularly flew out to USS LibertyÂ’s position and orbited the ship before returning to
their bases in Israel. A total of no fewer than eight (8) such flights were made.
13
"At approximately 1050 hours, the naval observer from the early morning reconnaissance flight arrived at Israeli air force HQ and sat down with the air-naval liaison officer
there.
The two officers consulted JanesÂ’ Fighting Ships and learned that the ship reported earlier in the day was USS Liberty, a United States Navy technical research
ship..."
"In the instant matter, Israel freely acknowledged that USS Liberty was a neutral ship
in international waters.
57
"Israel also admitted that the attack was deliberate and made
with the intent to sink the ship and crew.
58
"Israel has thus explicitly admitted the essential elements of a violation of Article 1 of the Hague Convention on Naval Warfare. Israel
has further admitted the essential elements required to establish a 'grave breach' as
that term is defined in the Geneva Convention (1949).
The Nürnberg War Crimes Tribunal established certain principles that were later
adopted by all members of the United Nations."
http://www.gtr5.com/evidence/warcrimes.pdf