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Live coverage of events, after Israeli commandos storm a convoy of boats carrying aid to Gaza, showing latest developments with breaking news and comment from BBC correspondents. All times BST.
1135:
French President Nicolas Sarkozy accuses Israel of a "disproportionate use of force".
1131:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he is "shocked by reports of killings and injuries" on the flotilla and says it is vital that Israel carries out a full investigation.
1129:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to cut short an official trip to Canada and Washington, Israeli radio reports.
1125:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to cut short an official trip to Latin America to deal with the political fallout of the Israeli action.
Turkey says it is recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
1122:
The BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut says many people have taken to streets in Beirut and are protesting in front of the United Nations building.
1115:
Ambassadors from European Union's 27 member states are to hold emergency talks in Brussels on the Israeli operation.
1105: The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says:
More details are emerging about the Israeli version of what happened on the boat.
Yochanan Plessner, member of the Israeli parliament and former navy commando himself, says that the moment Israeli commandos boarded the boat they were attacked by spikes, metal rods, and live ammunition.
He said: "They were actually thrown down the different levels of the ship. Basically the Israeli soldiers who came for policing type activity were lynched."
1058:
Turkey's foreign ministry calls for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Israel's military operation.
1056:
Frank Barat of the Russell Tribunal for Palestine tells the BBC he has several friends onboard ships in the flotilla and is concerned for their welfare.
Briton Sarah Colborne, the director of the Palestine Solidarity campaign in London was last heard from at 2300 on Sunday, speaking live via a webcast from the Turkish ship that was intercepted.
Mr Barat says another friend, Ewa Jasiewicz, who is part of the Free Gaza movement, was on board one of the smaller ships.
1055:
Nabil Amr, an adviser to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, condemns Israel's actions:
"The Palestinian Authority cannot let what happened go unnoticed.
"What happened is merely an international cry that does not carry any aggression or a violation of any borders; it is only a strong humanitarian call addressed to the world to end this unjust siege against our people in the Gaza Strip," he tells broadcaster al-Jazeera.
1052:
Wallander author Henning Mankell is among those believed to be on board the ships to Gaza.
1045:
Israel's Channel 10 TV says 19 activists were killed and 26 wounded.
1030: The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says:
Greece has withdrawn from joint military exercises with Israel in protest at the attack on the Gaza flotilla.
Athens has also barred the head of the Israeli airforce from flying to Greece.
The Greeks have long had warm relations with the Palestinians and are furious with the Israelis for carrying out this raid in international waters.
The Israeli ambassador to Athens was called into the foreign ministry to provide an explanation. The deputy foreign minister, Dhimitris Droutsas, demanded assurances about the wellbeing of 30 Greeks who were on board ships in the flotilla.
Mr Yahya was told in no uncertain terms that Greece held Israel responsible for their safety. One of the vessels currently being escorted by the Israelis towards the port of Ashdod is sailing under a Greek flag.
1012:
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says he is "deeply shocked" by the Israeli action and calls for an inquiry.
1010:
The first of the six ships in the flotilla dock in Ashdod, Israel.
1009:
Thousands of Turkish protesters march in Istanbul to denounce Israel.
0945:
Turkish foreign ministry warns Israel of irreparable damage to bilateral ties.
"This deplorable incident, which took place in open seas and constitutes a fragrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations," a statement read.
0930:
The Arab League calls an emergency meeting on 1 June to discuss Israel's "terrorist act" against the flotilla.
0925:
Sweden summons the Israeli ambassador to Stockholm over the "unacceptable" action.
0910:
The Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Daniel Ayalon, blamed the organisers for the violence, saying they were linked to terrorist organisations.
"The armada of hate and violence in support of Hamas terror organisation was a premeditated and outrageous provocation.
"The organisers are well known for their ties with global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror.
"On board the ship we found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces. The organisers intent was violent, their method was violent and the results were unfortunately violent. Israel regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome."
0900: The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says:
After the funerals and after the rage Israel will face two big questions: if, as Israeli officials insist, they are happy to channel all this aid into Gaza via Israeli ports - including the building materials which it claims Hamas could put to military ends - then what's the point of the blockade?
And how far can it continue to stick to the line that "there are no shortages in Gaza", when the United Nations, among others, describes the humanitarian situation as "grim" and "deteriorating"?
0845: Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza movement, which organised the convoy, tells the BBC:
"I can tell you that there were no firearms - all the boats were carefully inspected by the government before they left the port of departure.
"You can't hide a firearm; I suppose you can hide a knife, but there's no evidence there was shooting, there was live streaming coming from the boats.
"You don't see any fire going past the Israelis, you see them coming out of helicopters and shooting immediately."
0830: The BBC's Wyre Davies in Ashdod, Israel, says:
An Israeli army spokesman said the activists refused an order not to go to Gaza with their boats laden with humanitarian aid and instead dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The army says its troops were attacked by the activists with axes, knives and firearms.
At least four Israeli marines were injured, said a spokeswoman, including one who was shot when his gun was snatched by an activist.
There's now a state of alert across Israel.
0812: Israeli spokesman Mark Regev speaks to the BBC's Today programme:
0800: The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says:
Israel had warned it was going to use limited force to stop the flotilla. It seems to have used more than that.
Television pictures from on board the ships show Israeli armed commandos storming the boats.
You can hear what sounds like gun shots and a number of people can be seen lying on the deck, apparently injured.
It took place around 60km out to sea in international waters. An Israeli government minister expressed regret for any loss of life.
Israel has said it will tow the ships to Ashdod where a special passport and detention centre has been set up.
It says from there the activists will be deported.
0745:
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya says of the activists: "You were heroes, whether you reached [Gaza] or not."
0730: The BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul, Turkey, says:
Within hours of the first clashes between Israeli forces and the Gaza bound convoy the Turkish government issued a strongly-worded condemnation of the Israeli actions.
Once again Israel has shown that it ignores human rights and peaceful initiatives, read the statement from the foreign ministry.
It accused Israel of violating international law by using such force on the high seas, and said its actions could have irrevocable consequences for relations with Turkey.
The main organiser of the convoy is a Turkish-based Islamic charity and most of the activists on board are Turkish citizens.
If the reports of large numbers of casualties are confirmed, relations between Turkey and Israel, already badly strained over the blockade of Gaza, will plunge to a new low.
1135:
French President Nicolas Sarkozy accuses Israel of a "disproportionate use of force".
1131:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he is "shocked by reports of killings and injuries" on the flotilla and says it is vital that Israel carries out a full investigation.
1129:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to cut short an official trip to Canada and Washington, Israeli radio reports.
1125:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to cut short an official trip to Latin America to deal with the political fallout of the Israeli action.
Turkey says it is recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
1122:
The BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut says many people have taken to streets in Beirut and are protesting in front of the United Nations building.
1115:
Ambassadors from European Union's 27 member states are to hold emergency talks in Brussels on the Israeli operation.
1105: The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says:
More details are emerging about the Israeli version of what happened on the boat.
Yochanan Plessner, member of the Israeli parliament and former navy commando himself, says that the moment Israeli commandos boarded the boat they were attacked by spikes, metal rods, and live ammunition.
He said: "They were actually thrown down the different levels of the ship. Basically the Israeli soldiers who came for policing type activity were lynched."
1058:
Turkey's foreign ministry calls for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Israel's military operation.
1056:
Frank Barat of the Russell Tribunal for Palestine tells the BBC he has several friends onboard ships in the flotilla and is concerned for their welfare.
Briton Sarah Colborne, the director of the Palestine Solidarity campaign in London was last heard from at 2300 on Sunday, speaking live via a webcast from the Turkish ship that was intercepted.
Mr Barat says another friend, Ewa Jasiewicz, who is part of the Free Gaza movement, was on board one of the smaller ships.
1055:
Nabil Amr, an adviser to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, condemns Israel's actions:
"The Palestinian Authority cannot let what happened go unnoticed.
"What happened is merely an international cry that does not carry any aggression or a violation of any borders; it is only a strong humanitarian call addressed to the world to end this unjust siege against our people in the Gaza Strip," he tells broadcaster al-Jazeera.
1052:
Wallander author Henning Mankell is among those believed to be on board the ships to Gaza.
1045:
Israel's Channel 10 TV says 19 activists were killed and 26 wounded.
1030: The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says:
Greece has withdrawn from joint military exercises with Israel in protest at the attack on the Gaza flotilla.
Athens has also barred the head of the Israeli airforce from flying to Greece.
The Greeks have long had warm relations with the Palestinians and are furious with the Israelis for carrying out this raid in international waters.
The Israeli ambassador to Athens was called into the foreign ministry to provide an explanation. The deputy foreign minister, Dhimitris Droutsas, demanded assurances about the wellbeing of 30 Greeks who were on board ships in the flotilla.
Mr Yahya was told in no uncertain terms that Greece held Israel responsible for their safety. One of the vessels currently being escorted by the Israelis towards the port of Ashdod is sailing under a Greek flag.
1012:
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says he is "deeply shocked" by the Israeli action and calls for an inquiry.
1010:
The first of the six ships in the flotilla dock in Ashdod, Israel.
1009:
Thousands of Turkish protesters march in Istanbul to denounce Israel.
0945:
Turkish foreign ministry warns Israel of irreparable damage to bilateral ties.
"This deplorable incident, which took place in open seas and constitutes a fragrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations," a statement read.
0930:
The Arab League calls an emergency meeting on 1 June to discuss Israel's "terrorist act" against the flotilla.
0925:
Sweden summons the Israeli ambassador to Stockholm over the "unacceptable" action.
0910:
The Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Daniel Ayalon, blamed the organisers for the violence, saying they were linked to terrorist organisations.
"The armada of hate and violence in support of Hamas terror organisation was a premeditated and outrageous provocation.
"The organisers are well known for their ties with global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror.
"On board the ship we found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces. The organisers intent was violent, their method was violent and the results were unfortunately violent. Israel regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome."
0900: The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says:
After the funerals and after the rage Israel will face two big questions: if, as Israeli officials insist, they are happy to channel all this aid into Gaza via Israeli ports - including the building materials which it claims Hamas could put to military ends - then what's the point of the blockade?
And how far can it continue to stick to the line that "there are no shortages in Gaza", when the United Nations, among others, describes the humanitarian situation as "grim" and "deteriorating"?
0845: Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza movement, which organised the convoy, tells the BBC:
"I can tell you that there were no firearms - all the boats were carefully inspected by the government before they left the port of departure.
"You can't hide a firearm; I suppose you can hide a knife, but there's no evidence there was shooting, there was live streaming coming from the boats.
"You don't see any fire going past the Israelis, you see them coming out of helicopters and shooting immediately."
0830: The BBC's Wyre Davies in Ashdod, Israel, says:
An Israeli army spokesman said the activists refused an order not to go to Gaza with their boats laden with humanitarian aid and instead dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The army says its troops were attacked by the activists with axes, knives and firearms.
At least four Israeli marines were injured, said a spokeswoman, including one who was shot when his gun was snatched by an activist.
There's now a state of alert across Israel.
0812: Israeli spokesman Mark Regev speaks to the BBC's Today programme:
0800: The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says:
Israel had warned it was going to use limited force to stop the flotilla. It seems to have used more than that.
Television pictures from on board the ships show Israeli armed commandos storming the boats.
You can hear what sounds like gun shots and a number of people can be seen lying on the deck, apparently injured.
It took place around 60km out to sea in international waters. An Israeli government minister expressed regret for any loss of life.
Israel has said it will tow the ships to Ashdod where a special passport and detention centre has been set up.
It says from there the activists will be deported.
0745:
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya says of the activists: "You were heroes, whether you reached [Gaza] or not."
0730: The BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul, Turkey, says:
Within hours of the first clashes between Israeli forces and the Gaza bound convoy the Turkish government issued a strongly-worded condemnation of the Israeli actions.
Once again Israel has shown that it ignores human rights and peaceful initiatives, read the statement from the foreign ministry.
It accused Israel of violating international law by using such force on the high seas, and said its actions could have irrevocable consequences for relations with Turkey.
The main organiser of the convoy is a Turkish-based Islamic charity and most of the activists on board are Turkish citizens.
If the reports of large numbers of casualties are confirmed, relations between Turkey and Israel, already badly strained over the blockade of Gaza, will plunge to a new low.
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