Irish activists held overnight in Israel will face an immigration hearing later today.

Israeli forces have boarded an Irish ship sailing in a so-called 'Freedom Waves' aid convoy to Gaza, it was confirmed this afternoon.

Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy has condemned the Greek authorities' decision to ban any of the Gaza flotilla ships from leaving Greek ports.

Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla said they have not abandoned their plans to breach Israel's sea blockade of the territory despite a Greek government ban on their vessels leaving the country's ports.

Greek coastguards say they have arrested the captain of a boat that was to be part of a Gaza-bound flotilla trying to deliver humanitarian aid.

Six crew members from the Irish Ship that was forced to abandon its journey to Gaza after it was sabotaged are planning to continue on their mission.

The Israeli Embassy in Dublin has issued a statement today after a Irish aid vessel the MV Saoirse was forced to pull out of a flotilla attempting to break the Gaza blockade after it was damaged while docked in Turkey.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has backed calls for an investigation into damage caused to a Gaza-bound Irish ship.

The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has questioned the wisdom behind those taking part in the international aid flotilla which sets sail today for Gaza.

Dublin’s Socialist MEP Paul Murphy has today condemned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for comments she made yesterday criticising the attempts by the Gaza Flotilla II to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

The Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy says the Irish boat travelling to Gaza as part of an international flotilla is not designed to provoke the Israelis.

Four Irish rugby internationals have given their backing to a second aid flotilla trying to break the Gaza blockade.

An aid flotilla will leave for the Gaza Strip in the third week of June, just more than a year after a similar flotilla was raided by Israeli forces, leaving nine people dead on a Turkish boat, activists say.

A Turkish government inquiry into Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has said Israeli soldiers shot five victims from close range.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists have gathered at a port in Istanbul to welcome back a ship that was the scene of bloodshed during an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May.

Two Irish men detained by Greek officials after a dispute broke out on a ship containing aid for Gaza were released today.

Two Irish citizens are on board a ship containing aid supplies for Gaza being investigated by the Greek authorities near Athens, it has emerged.

An appeal by Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire against her deportation orders over entering Israel was rejected by a court today.

Israeli authorities boarded a British yacht, took down its flag and "almost strip searched" its crew as they attempted to break the blockade to Gaza, a Briton on board said today.

A United Nations report claims Israeli troops could be prosecuted for what it called "wilful killing" and "torture" in connection with a raid on ships bound for Gaza.

Up to 50 Irish campaigners are expected to join a coalition of pro-Palestinian supporters on a second aid flotilla to Gaza, it was revealed today.

A flotilla of ships is preparing to leave for Gaza in eight weeks time and an Irish vessel is expected to be among them.

Israel is not co-operating with the UN Human Rights Council’s probe of May’s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, a UN official said today.

The Israeli intelligence service made mistakes during the deadly storming of ships taking aid to the Gaza strip, a former military official today acknowledged.

Israel’s defence minister said the government’s decision to send troops to stop a Turkish aid ship trying to breach Israel’s Gaza blockade was correct despite the ensuing bloodshed on board.

Israel’s prime minister today claimed its commando raid that left nine dead on an aid flotilla heading for Gaza was justified under international law.

The United Nations panel investigating Israel’s deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla will include Israeli and Turkish diplomats.

The protest ship seized by Israel in a deadly raid in May returned to Turkey today.

Israel today agreed to take part in a UN investigation of its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

European Affairs Minister Dick Roche will attend a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers tomorrow at which Gaza and the middle east will be top of the agenda.

Israel has urged Lebanon and the international community to prevent two ships from sailing to Gaza from a Lebanese port to break Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, warning that the vessels will be stopped.

An Israeli warship attempted to stop a Libyan aid vessel trying to breach the Gaza blockade tonight.

Tony Blair has welcomed the easing of Israel's blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza to allow in virtually all consumer goods that had been barred for years.

Israel today dropped its long-standing restrictions on allowing consumer goods into the Gaza Strip but retained tight limits on desperately needed construction materials.

Turkey has today threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Israel if it does not apologise for its deadly raid on the Gaza aid convoy or accept an international inquiry into it.

A protest will be held at the Israeli Embassy in Dublin this morning.

The Israeli Ambassador will today attend a special meeting of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee to discuss the situation in Gaza.

Iran today threatened to send an aid ship to the blockaded Gaza Strip risking a high-seas confrontation with Israel.

Israel's UN envoy has told the world body that Israel is entitled to use "all necessary force" to prevent activists sailing from Lebanon to Gaza.

A coalition of pro-Palestinian groups said today it plans to send a second aid flotilla to Gaza, dismissing Israel's promise to ease its blockade as not bold enough and defying Israeli warnings against any new sea-based activist operation.

British peace activists today threatened legal action to force an international inquiry into Israel’s storming of an aid flotilla headed for the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli military official has this afternoon said that all foods would be freely let in to Gaza, effective immediately.

Israel agreed today to ease its land blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, hoping to quell growing international criticism after a deadly sea raid.

Israel will significantly ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip today, officials said, in an effort to blunt widespread international criticism after a deadly Israeli commando raid on a blockade-busting flotilla.