Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, declared Monday that the organizers of the flotilla, which tried to reach the Gaza Strip despite the Israel blockade, are terrorists connected to Hamas and Al-Queda.

Aylon said his country "regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome," but accused the convoy of a "premeditated and outrageous provocation," describing the flotilla as an "armada of hate".

At a press conference, the Deputy Foreign Minister further informed weapons have been found aboard the ship seized by Israeli commandos, information the Turkish Customs firmly deny.

The six-ship flotilla, carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid, left the coast of Cyprus on Sunday and had been due to arrive in Gaza on Monday.

Israel reports its soldiers boarded the lead ship in the early hours but were attacked with axes, knives, bars and at least two guns.

Organizers of the flotilla said at least 30 people were wounded in the incident while different reports list the number of deaths between 10 and 19.

The boats left European ports in a consolidated protest organized by two pro-Palestinian groups to deliver tons of food and other aid to Gaza to break a blockade imposed by Israel in 2007 after militant group Hamas seized control of the territory.

Israel is towing the boats to the port of Ashdod and informs it will deport the passengers from there and will deliver the ships' aid to Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry announced that two Bulgarian journalists have been arrested in the attack.

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