Five Irish citizens seized during the Israeli storming of a Gaza aid flotilla were in Turkey today preparing further travel plans.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin today repeated calls for Israel to allow aid boat the MV Rachel Corrie through its military blockade of Gaza.

ISRAEL has decided to free hundreds of foreign activists detained following the commando attack on the aid flotilla which left at least nine activists dead.

Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimhghin O Caolain has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to initiate a trade boycott of Israel at national and EU level.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has accused Israel of kidnapping up to eight Irish citizens and breaking international law by refusing diplomats access to them.

Two Irish campaigners were detained tonight in Israel after being arrested on a humanitarian mission to Gaza in which at least 15 people were shot dead.

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.

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.