"Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as Israel', pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees," the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission reported.

"Boat communications are being jammed and a SOS was issued."

Israel Army Radio reported that the IDF had begun seizing control of aid ships heading towards Gaza well before they reached Israeli territorial waters.