Israeli commandos have boarded and seized a Gaza-bound aid ship carrying nine Jewish activists. The ship was apprehended by the Israeli navy just miles off the coast of Gaza. Navy commandos boarded the vessel and led the passengers off the boat. The activists said they were attempting to take to Gaza a symbolic load of medicine, a water-purifying kit and other humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council was told on Monday that Israeli troops broke international law by storming a Turkish aid flotilla bound for Gaza in May.

Karl Hudson-Phillips, Chair of the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission: “The mission considers that the conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel towards the flotilla passengers were disproportionate and excessive and that they represented levels of totally unnecessary violence. This resulted in the deaths of nine passengers and severe injuries to many. The mission finds that serious violations of both humanitarian and human rights law occurred during and after this incident.”