Taoiseach Brian Cowen today blamed the Israeli blockade of Gaza for a commando assault on a flotilla of aid ships which left at least 15 people dead and scores injured.

Israeli media has reported that one Irish person had been wounded on the attack on Gaza-bound aid ships by the Iraeli Navy today.

Eight Irish people were travelling on a flotilla of aid ships where 15 people were reportedly shot dead today by Israeli commandos.

Israeli warships attacked at least one of the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for blockaded Gaza today, killing at least ten and wounding an unknown number of people on board, reports said.

Two Irish people are among a group of 21 human rights activists being held by the Israeli authorities for trying to bring humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.

An aid ship with two Irish citizens are onboard has today been boarded and towed to an Israeli port.

Two Irish citizens are onboard a boat which has been boarded by the Israeli Navy, according to unconfirmed reports today.

THE Israeli navy intercepted a ship delivering 60 tons of supplies to the Gaza Strip from Lebanon yesterday in the latest bid to defy Israel’s blockade of the militant-held territory.

The Israeli navy intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to head toward an Egyptian port, Iran’s state television reported today.

The Israeli navy has turned back a protest boat trying to bring humanitarian supplies by sea into the Gaza Strip.

THE US state governor forced to resign after having an adulterous gay love affair with a former adviser was being threatened with blackmail, it emerged yesterday.

A US state governor was forced to resign after having an adulterous gay love affair with a former adviser who threatened to blackmail him, it emerged today.

An Israeli navy patrol boat opened fire on an unmanned, booby trapped raft off the Gaza coast today, triggering a loud explosion.