At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured when Israeli military forces intercepted the convoy of ships, dubbed the Freedom Flotilla, early on Monday, Israeli radio reported.
The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 150 kilometers from Israel’s territorial waters.
Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman, confirmed that the attack took place in international waters, saying: “This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves.”
Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.
Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.
The Israeli military said four soldiers had been wounded and claimed troops opened fire after “demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs.”
The Free Gaza Movement, the organizers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the ships.
An Al Jazeera correspondent said that a white surrender flag was raised from the Mavi Marmara and there was no live fire coming from the passengers.
Al Jazeera reported, before losing communication with their correspondent, a voice in Hebrew was clearly heard saying: “Everyone shut up.”
Organizers of the flotilla carrying 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance then diverted their ships and slowed down to avoid a confrontation during the night.
They also issued all passengers life jackets and asked them to remain below deck.
Al Jazeera’s Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Jerusalem, said the Israeli action was surprising.
“All the images being shown from the activists on board those ships show clearly that they were civilians and peaceful in nature, with medical supplies on board. So it will surprise many in the international community to learn what could have possibly led to this type of confrontation,” he said.
International reaction
The Israeli attack on a Gaza aid boat on Monday sparked a global reaction, with the European Union calling for an inquiry into the attack and the Arab League calling on Arab nations to decide on their next step, Gulf News reported.
Egypt
The Egyptian government summoned its Israeli ambassador after the deadly attack on the ships.
United Kingdom
British Foreign Secretary William Hague called on Israel to open all crossings for aid to enter Gaza and deplored the loss of life in Monday's naval raid.
Pakistan
Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned “the use of brazen force by Israel against a humanitarian mission.”
Belgium
Belgium has summoned “the Israeli ambassador to explain to him this afternoon (Monday) how events unfolded,” and also to provide news of five Belgian nationals who were on board the flotilla, according to spokesman Bart Ouvry. The five included four women and a cameraman for Al Jazeera television news, Ouvry said.
Vatican City
The Vatican voiced “deep sadness and concern” over the Israeli raid on a pro-Palestinian flotilla of ships seeking to bring aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Austria
The Austrian government has summoned the Israeli ambassador over the Gaza flotilla raid.
Italy
Italy “deplored” the loss of civilian life in Israel's raid on aid ships bound for Gaza in which up to 19 people were killed and called on the European Union to take part in an international probe.
“I absolutely deplore... the killing of civilians” in the assault on Monday, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters, describing the Israeli pre-dawn military action as “really serious.”
Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said: “Every German government has always recognized and supported the right of Israel to defend itself, but this right must of course be within the boundaries of proportionality. This basic tenet is a key part of international law ... At first glance it does not look like this basic rule was adhered to.”
“Germany is shocked by the serious incident that took place in international waters off Gaza,” Ulrich Wilhelm told a regular government briefing. “The German government is deeply disturbed by the loss of life.”
European Union
The European Union also urged Israel to allow the free flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
“High Representative Catherine Ashton expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded,” said a spokesperson for Ashton, the EU’s foreign policy chief.
“On behalf of the European Union she demands a full enquiry about the circumstances in which this happened... She calls for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza.”
Arab League
Arab League chief Amr Moussa called the raid a “crime” against a humanitarian mission and said the organization is “conducting calls to Arabs to decide on our next step”.
Bahrain
Islamist societies and families waited for news about four Bahrainis who were on board one of the Gaza aid ships.
Calls have been made to Bahrain's embassies in Cairo and Jordan, UN agencies and Palestinian officials to find out about the whereabouts and conditions of Shaikh Jalal Al Sharqi, Khalid Abdul Kareem Bujeeri, Hassan Murad and Yusuf Mahmood. However, no news were available.
Palestine
Palestinian Acting Authority Mahmud Abbas announced three days of mourning. Abbas condemned what he called “a massacre”.
Gazans have also gathered in the city centre to conduct a huge demonstration.
Hamas urged Arabs and Muslims to “rise up” in front of Israeli embassies across the globe in protest against Israel's deadly raid on a fleet of aid ships destined for the Gaza Strip.
Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denounced Israel's deadly attack on a Gaza aid ship as “inhuman,” saying it brought Israel “closer than ever to its end.”
Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday slammed as “dangerous and crazy” a deadly Israeli raid on a fleet of ships carrying aid to Gaza.
“The Israeli attack on the aid convoy is a dangerous and crazy step that will exacerbate tensions in the region,” Hariri said in a statement.
“Lebanon firmly denounces this attack and calls on the international community, notably major powers... to take action in order to end this continued violation of human rights and threat to international peace,” he added.
Kuwait
Kuwait's prime minister called for an emergency meeting over the Gaza aid ship attack.
Islamist MP Waleed Al Tabtabai was among 16 Kuwaiti nationals on board one of the six ships carrying aid destined for Palestinians in Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli siege for four years.
Parliament speaker Jassem Al Khorafi condemned what he called the “heinous Israeli crime against the freedom convoy which was on a peaceful and humanitarian mission of solidarity with the population of Gaza.”
Syria
Syria called for a meeting of the Arab League and Kuwait said that its government would hold an emergency meeting in the afternoon.
Amid much media coverage on the Israeli attack, Syrian Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban criticized pan-Arab Al Jazeera TV for “giving around 30 minutes to the Israeli deputy foreign minister at his press conference.”
France
France said that “nothing can justify” the violence of Israel's Gaza ship raid.
Greece
The Greek government summoned the Israeli ambassador and withdrew from joint military exercises with Israel after the deadly raid on an aid convoy headed for the Gaza Strip.
The foreign ministry said in a statement it had demanded details on about 30 Greeks who were on the flotilla attacked by Israeli commandos.
The ministry “stressed the need to take the necessary measures to ensure their security.” Israel's ambassador Ali Yahya was called in for talks with Greek deputy foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas.
“Greece's consistent position is that the activities of any non-government organization must be freely allowed as long as they are legal,” said the ministry statement.
Spain
Spain, which holds the rotating EU presidency, summoned Israel's ambassador on Monday for an explanation for a deadly raid on an aid ship flotilla bound for Gaza, the foreign ministry said.
Sweden
Sweden summoned the Israeli ambassador to Stockholm over the “unacceptable” Gaza flotilla raid, the foreign ministry said.
“I summoned the Israeli ambassador this morning to tell him that we thought the raid was completely unacceptable and that we are taking the situation very seriously,” State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage told reporters.
Turkey
In Turkey, the government warned that the attack could lead to “irreparable consequences” in bilateral ties.
In Istanbul, Turkish police blocked dozens of stone-throwing protesters who tried to storm the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul over reports of the Israeli attack.
GJ/GJ
END
MNA
Your Comment