At least 10 activists have reportedly been killed after Israeli forces opened fire on a Gaza aid flotilla, AFP reported today.

Over 60 pro-Palestinian activists have also been wounded after the storming by Israeli armed forces of at least one of the six ships loaded with humanitarian aid headed for Gaza, say reports.

At least two Malaysian activists are believed to be in the aid flotilla, though this has yet to be confirmed.

The Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television showed footage of Israeli commandos descending onto one of the flotillas from helicopters and clashing with activists as several wounded people lay on the deck of the ship.

 

According to The Associated Press , the Israeli military declined to comment on the report, and organisers of the aid convoy said they were no longer in contact with the boats.

                           

An Israeli military spokesperson, however, said the armed forces would enforce the decision to keep the ships away from Gaza.

Other security officials have confirmed that activists were wounded, though they did not give exact numbers.

Marines 'attacked by activists'

They said the troops faced resistance and that soldiers were under orders only to use fire if their lives were in danger.

According to Israel's private channel 10 television , Israeli marine commandos opened fire after being attacked with axes and knives by a number of the passengers on board the aid ships.

NONE Israel's army radio said between 10 and 14 people had been killed in clashes which broke out after the passengers allegedly tried to grab weapons off the naval commandos who tried to storm one of the boats.

The al-Jazeera satellite channel, meanwhile, reported from onboard one ship that Israeli navy forces had fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain.

The al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!"

Al-Jazeera footage also showed soldiers descending from helicopters on ropes onto a ship and two men, apparently wounded, being carried away.

The head of the Hamas-led Gaza government, Ismail Haniyeh, condemned the "brutal" Israeli attack.

"We call on the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, to shoulder his responsibilities to protect the safety of the solidarity groups who were on board these ships and to secure their way to Gaza," Haniyeh told The Associated Press .

The six-ship flotilla began the journey from Cyprus yesterday afternoon and was expected to reach Gaza, about 400 kilometers away, this afternoon.

Israeli envoy summoned by Turkish government

They were part of a total of eight ships, the last two scheduled to follow later.

The Israeli ambassador to Turkey, meanwhile, has been summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry Monday after the incident, a Turkish diplomat said.

"The ambassador (Gabby Levy) was summoned to the foreign ministry. We will convey our reaction in the strongest terms," the diplomat, who asked not to be named, told AFP .

After nightfall Sunday, three Israeli navy missile boats left their base in Haifa to confront the activists' ships.

Two hours later, Israel Radio broadcast a recording of one of its boats warning the flotilla not to approach Gaza.

“If you ignore this order and enter the blockaded area, the Israeli navy will be forced to take all the necessary measures in order to enforce this blockade,” The Associated Press reported.

The flotilla, which includes three cargo ships and three passenger ships, is trying to draw attention to Israel's blockade of Gaza.

The activists were reported to be also carrying hundreds of electric-powered wheelchairs, prefabricated homes and water purifiers.