The humanitarian aid flotilla headed towards Gaza was attacked in a pre-dawn raid in international waters by Israeli commandos on May 31. At least 10, out of the nearly 700 people on board (most of whom were peace activists, journalists, former members of the parliament and ambassadors from around the world), have been killed.

Pakistani journalist and executive producer of Aaj TV, Talat Husain, producer Raza Mehmood Agha and the chief of Khubaib Foundation, Nadeem Ahmed Khan were on board when the raid was conducted. Although their whereabouts are unknown, Interpol has informed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that they are safe.

The flotilla included three passenger ships and three cargo ships, with most casualties reported on the Mavi Marmara. Currently 480 activists are being held by Israelis while 48 have been expelled.

The Israeli attack on innocent civilians has sparked worldwide outrage, with the Turkish prime minister recalling its ambassador in Israel. However, despite protests and international outcry, according to the Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, the people on the flotilla were not peaceful in any way:

“They are part of the IHH, which is a radical Turkish Islamist organisation which has been investigated by Western governments and by the Turkish government itself in the past for their links with terrorist organisations."

But the Turkish Prime Minister has rejected any such claim. "I want to say to the world, to the heads of state and the governments, that these boats that left from Turkey and other countries were checked in a strict way under the framework of the rules of international navigation and were only loaded with humanitarian aid," he said.

Politician Ijazul Haq has constantly been tweeting about the attack on the flotilla, calling for immediate action against Israel:

“Isn't the attack on Floats of Peace by Israel a fit case for US to support the poor Palestinians for an independent state” and, “The US needs to stop giving aid to Israel. Israel has 52 additional states in the US while the US is depending on its only state - Israel.”

But this isn’t the first time the Israeli’s have attacked aid supplies to Gaza as Ahmed Noor writes for The Huffington Post.

Former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was arrested by the Israelis in 2009 in an attempt to cross the Gaza Stip to provide medical supplies and crayons for children. She released an audiotape from the Israeli prison:

“This is Cynthia McKinney and I'm speaking from an Israeli prison cellblock in Ramle. [I am one of] the Free Gaza 21, human rights activists currently imprisoned for trying to take medical supplies to Gaza, building supplies – and even crayons for children, I had a suitcase full of crayons for children. While we were on our way to Gaza the Israelis threatened to fire on our boat, but we did not turn around. The Israelis high-jacked and arrested us because we wanted to give crayons to the children in Gaza. We have been detained, and we want the people of the world to see how we have been treated just because we wanted to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza”

For a little background on the flotilla and its cargo, check CNN’s informative piece which provides a background on why the flotilla was headed towards Gaza.

Al Jazeera has been maintaining a live blog providing in depth coverage of the events, which also includes official statements issued by other countries and UN officials.

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.