An Israeli army helicopter approaching a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaz
Taking aim: An Israeli soldier points his from the deck of one of the Turkish ship
This video image released by the Turkish Aid group IHH purports to show Israeli soldiers aboard a military vessel in international waters off the Gaza coas
Israeli patrol boats are silhouetted against the backdrop of a large civilian vessel before the pre-dawn assault in which up to 19 people die
Angry Islamic protesters try to pass a barricade during a demonstration in Istanbu
Israel faced global condemnation yesterday after a bloody commando raid on a convoy to Gaza which left up to 19 dead.
Another 30 were injured as special forces marines arriving from boats and helicopters stormed the flotilla of six aid ships and fought with activists.
As bullets flew across the decks and soldiers were beaten with iron bars, the carnage was beamed around the world on television.
Injured: A pro-Palestinian activist is evacuated to a hospital in the northern city of Haifa in the wake of the rai
A team of masked Israeli military personnel seen on board one of their ridge boats after the rai
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Protest: Riot police officers blockade the road leading to the Israeli embassy in Londo
Outcry: Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters gather outside Downing Street to protest against the the flotilla rai
Egyptian demonstrators shout anti-Israeli slogans during a protest outside Al Fateh mosque in Cairo, Egyp
t
Fury: Pakistani demonstrators burn an effigy representing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel said ten of its marines were hurt, one seriously, and insisted its forces had come under attack first - a claim denied by the activists.
At least 28 Britons, two Israeli parliamentarians, a Nobel Peace Laureate and a best-selling author were among the 700-strong group of 50 nationalities trying to break a three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel.
None of the Britons was thought to have been hurt but it was not known if any had been injured.
The incident happened in international waters and worldwide condemnation of Israel was swift.
Turkey, from where most of the dead are said to come, accused Israel of 'state terrorism' and withdrew its ambassador to Tel Aviv.
Tens of thousands marched through Istanbul and attempted to storm the Israeli consulate, chanting: ' Murderous Israel, you will drown in the blood you shed.'
Deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc called Israel's actions 'piracy' and cancelled three planned joint military exercises.
Foreign Secretary William Hague 'deplored the loss of life' and asked for access to the British involved, while David Cameron branded the attack 'unacceptable'.
The deadly clash sparked a wave of furious condemnation of Israel - with 2,000 demonstrators outside the gates of Downing Street and thousands more outside the Israeli Embassy in West London.
In Paris, hundreds clashed with police near the Israeli Embassy. Police responded by firing tear gas.
The White House, which has close ties with both Israel and Turkey, expressed 'deep regret at the loss of life in today's incident, and concern for the wounded'.
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu cancelled a trip to Washington planned for today to head home as the crisis erupted.
He expressed his 'full backing' for the military action.
The UN said it was 'shocked' by the violence. Its Security Council met last night, with most members of the 15-nation body calling for a thorough investigation.
Following a 90-minute open meeting, the council went into closed-door consultations. Diplomats said envoys were haggling over the text of a proposed statement by the council, a task that dragged on into the evening.
Many council members criticized the Israeli action with varying degrees of vehemence, and said it was time for Israel's three-year-old blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza to be lifted.
'This is tantamount to banditry and piracy,' Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the council. 'It is murder conducted by a state.'
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