By the CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) -- Israeli commandos killed at least 10 people in pre-dawn raids on a flotilla of six ships carrying aid for the Palestinian territory of Gaza early Monday, the country's military said.
"During the incident the soldier's lives were in danger," said a statement from the Israel Defense Forces. "They were attacked with severe physical violence, including live fire, weapons, knives and clubs."
Five Israeli soldiers were wounded, the IDF added.
The boats left European ports in a consolidated protest organized by two pro-Palestinian groups to deliver tons of food and other aid to Gaza to break a blockade imposed by Israel in 2007 after militant group Hamas seized control of the territory.
The Free Gaza Movement, one of the groups sponsoring the convoy, disputed Israel's claim of violence by people aboard the ships.
