Shock and outrage has swept the globe after Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip, killing at least 19 people and injuring 60.
The high-seas attack has sparked an international diplomatic crisis and raised fears it could provoke a Palestinian uprising within Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank territory.
Five Israelis were injured, two seriously, after they were reportedly fired on by protesters when the black-clad commandos boarded the Turkish ferry, Mavi Marmara, in international waters off Israel's Mediterranean coast towards besieged Gaza.
Israeli security forces were on Level3 alert yesterday, one below a state of emergency, amid concerns of rocket attacks on Israel from Hamas militants in Gaza and from Hezbollah across Israel's border with Lebanon.
The Jewish state's foes and allies closed ranks in condemning yesterday's pre-dawn raid and Israel's allies froze military ties and summoned ambassadors.
Muslim leaders slammed the deadly raid as ''criminal'' and ''inhuman'' while UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was ''shocked'' by the assault on a convoy carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, lawmakers and journalists.
''It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place,'' Mr Ban said, calling on Israel to ''urgently'' explain itself over the raid, which took a heavy toll on Turkish members of the flotilla.
As the Vatican voiced ''deep sadness and concern'' at the loss of life, capitals across Europe summoned Israel's ambassadors to explain the assault.
Turkey responded with fury, recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv and warning the assault would have ''irreparable consequences'' to bilateral ties.
Police held back angry crowds shouting ''Damn Israel'' outside Israel's missions to the country, as Turkey accused Israel of a ''flagrant breach of international law'', and ''disregard for human life and peaceful initiatives.''
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc also said plans for three joint military exercises with Israel had been scrapped.
Greece, which had dozens of nationals in the convoy, pulled out of joint military exercises with Israel and cancelled a visit by its air force chief, as an aid group claimed that commandos in helicopters had fired on a Greek vessel.
Two Australians are in an Israeli detention centre after they were caught up in the deadly clash.
Fairfax journalist Paul McGeough and photographer Kate Geraghty were travelling with the flotilla. They were reported to be safe last night.
The Rudd Government expressed its sorrow at the deaths. Greens Leader Bob Brown described the raid as shocking, while the Coalition's foreign affairs spokeswoman, Julie Bishop, said the deaths were deeply disturbing.
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