Amnesty International is deeply concerned that it appears that Israeli armed forces may have used excessive force the morning of May 31, 2010 when entering boats protesting the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military blockade of Gaza has left more than 1.4 million Palestinian men, women and children trapped in the Gaza Strip. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty and food price rises caused by shortages have left four in five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. As a form of collective punishment, Israel's continuing blockade of Gaza is a flagrant violation of international law.