Israeli naval commandos on Monday stormed a flotilla of ships carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from Turkey to the blockaded Gaza Strip.

 

Israel is officially claiming that 10 people were killed in the fracas. Most of those killed were Turks.

Conflicting accounts of the incident have activists saying the troops fired first, while Israel insists its forces acted in self defense.

The Israeli army has issued a statement saying it warned the aid ships many times, before conducting the raid. And they carried out the raid after the flotilla entered the blockaded area.

Israeli Navy Officer, Addressing Gaza Aid Ship, said, "Marvi Mainier, you are approaching an area of hostilities which is under a naval blockade. The Gaza coastal region, and Gaza Harbor, are closed to all maritime traffic."

Israeli media reports say their country's forces opened fire after being attacked by a number of passengers on the vessels.

The Israeli army also released a video late on Monday, showing soldiers being beaten up by activists, as well as the discovery of contraband weapons aboard one ship.

But according to reports by the Free Gaza Movement, the Israeli commandos opened fire on unarmed civilians immediately after landing on the deck of a Turkish vessel.

The navy then seized the six aid ships.

Israeli police reveal that 16 pro-Palestinian activists from the Gaza-bound flotilla have been detained.

Officials say they will deport most of the roughly 700 individuals from the vessels. But those who refuse to cooperate will be imprisoned.