Accused of using disproportionate force, Israel defends its raid, saying its soldiers were ambushed as they boarded an aid ship in international waters. Activists say any skirmish was self-defense.
Reporting from Jerusalem
Israel faced a diplomatic firestorm Monday over its deadly attack against a protest flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Foreign leaders and protest organizers accused Israel of using excessive force in the raid in international waters, but Israel defended its actions, saying that soldiers were ambushed with knives and metal bars, as well as handguns wrested from the commandos.
Israel's military said nine protesters were killed in the late-night raid, which occurred about 40 miles off Israel's coast. Protest organizers put the death toll at 16. Dozens were wounded, including seven Israeli soldiers.
Israel criticized over Gaza flotilla attack
Accused of using disproportionate force, Israel defends its raid, saying its soldiers were ambushed as they boarded an aid ship in international waters. Activists say any skirmish was self-defense.
Israel protests
Demonstrators protest outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Monday. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press)
Reporting from Jerusalem
Israel faced a diplomatic firestorm Monday over its deadly attack against a protest flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Foreign leaders and protest organizers accused Israel of using excessive force in the raid in international waters, but Israel defended its actions, saying that soldiers were ambushed with knives and metal bars, as well as handguns wrested from the commandos.
Israel's military said nine protesters were killed in the late-night raid, which occurred about 40 miles off Israel's coast. Protest organizers put the death toll at 16. Dozens were wounded, including seven Israeli soldiers.
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Video of the attack released by the Israeli military, Turkish television and other media sources depicted a dramatic high-seas brawl in which Israeli commandos rappelled from helicopters onto a ship and immediately clashed with activists on board.
Responding to the brewing crisis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to Canada to return to Israel and canceled a much-anticipated White House visit with President Obama.
U.S. officials expressed regret at the loss of life but stopped short of criticizing Israel until full details of the incident were released.
Elsewhere, however, international leaders condemned Israel's interception of the pro-Palestinian convoy, which was attempting to break through Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and bring food, medical supplies, clothing and constructions supplies to the impoverished territory.
As the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting, French President Nicolas Sarkozy criticized Israel's "disproportionate use of force."
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a "thorough investigation" into the violence, saying he was "shocked" by the reports.
Turkey, a onetime ally of Israel, recalled its ambassador to Israel and warned of further actions.
After the raid, Israel's Navy escorted the six vessels in the flotilla to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the government had set up tents to accommodate them. Protesters were offered the choice of flying home immediately or facing arrest and imprisonment. By Monday evening, most were opting to be arrested, officials said, with as many as 600 activists from 40 nations still being held.
The Israeli military did not permit any of the detained passengers to be interviewed by reporters or to communicate with family members. The passengers include members of the European Parliament, journalists and artists.
No information has been released about the identities of those killed. Several dozen activists were being treated in Israeli hospitals.
Israeli officials Monday said their soldiers had expected moderate resistance and civil disobedience but instead encountered organized attacks the moment the commandos rappelled onto the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, which had more than 500 passengers.
One Israeli commando, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he and other soldiers were immediately attacked by a group of about 30 people. "They beat us up with metal sticks and knives," he said.
Soldiers had been ordered to treat the raid as a "police action" and only use paintball rifles to control the crowds, according to a report by Ynet, an Israeli news website. But as the first soldiers boarded, they were quickly beset by protesters allegedly using switchblades, slingshots, deck chairs, marbles, metal balls and metal bars, military officials said.
According to the military, two protesters grabbed handguns from two commandos and began firing.
"There was live fire at some point against us," the commando said. "They were shooting at us from below deck."
At least one soldier was thrown from the top deck of the boat to the lower deck by activists, according the commando and video released by the military. Some soldiers jumped into the water to escape, the commando said.
At some point, military commanders authorized soldiers to use handguns against the crowds, military officials said.
source:
Harvard MIT divest ? We are a group of Harvard and MIT faculty and students who have convened recently to attempt to bring into the open a critical discussion of Israeli human rights abuses against Palestinians. 
Israel criticized over Gaza flotilla attack 
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