Israeli Forces Storm Boat with Pro-Palestinian Activists, over 10 Killed

More than 10 passengers died Monday when Israeli forces stormed a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists bound for Gaza, the Israeli army said, sparking fury from Turkey and Palestinian leaders.

Photo: Israeli Forces Storm Boat with Pro-Palestinian Activists, over 10 Killed

The bloody ending to the high-profile mission to deliver supplies to Gaza came on the eve of a meeting in Washington between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, AFP informs.

The flotilla had set sail on Sunday from northern, or Turkish, Cyprus. Six boats were led by the Mavi Marmara, which carried 600 activists from around the world, including Mairead Corrigan Maguire, the Northern Ireland peace protester who won a Nobel Prize in 1976.

It came under almost immediate monitoring from Israeli drones and the navy, with two vessels flanking it in international waters. The flotilla, which had been warned that it would not be allowed to reach Gaza, attempted to slow and change course, hoping to prevent a confrontation until daylight, when the Israeli military action could be better filmed. But in the early hours of this morning local time commandoes boarded from helicopters, Telegraph says.