THE Israeli ambassador to Ireland has been heavily criticised after withdrawing from an Oireachtas committee hearing today into the flotilla raid in which nine people were killed.

A RELIEVED but angry Shane Dillon has described the moment Israeli navy special forces stormed the Gaza-bound aid flotilla and attacked peace activists with stun guns.

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

An Irish activist seized by Israeli authorities in a commando operation on an aid flotilla has accused armed forces of carrying out an act of piracy.

Five Irish citizens who are being held in Israel are refusing to sign deportation orders.

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.

An Irish activist seized by Israeli authorities in a commando operation on an aid flotilla tonight accused armed forces of carrying out an act of piracy.

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.

Activist Shane Dillon who was seized by Israeli authorities in a commando operation which left at least 10 people dead on an aid flotilla will be sent back to Ireland today.

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.