I’m sorry. Regardless of the details or the Rules of Engagement, I think this incident is regrettable. As I understand it, the Israelis stormed the boats and then were attacked with sticks et. al. However, they were hundred of miles from Gaza at the time of boarding.
Surely, there was no immediate need to board, and there were a wide variety of potential tactics that they could have used before the ship came anywhere near the Gaza shore. No matter how you look at it, 10 deaths is a black spot on the Israeli record. They didn’t have to take the aggressive actions that they did at the time when they performed them.
No “international law” forbids what they did. Only the court of public opinion, which is why this incident was planned by the anti-semitic left and muslims in the first place.
Either show weakness or stand fast and take the criticism. Israel's hand was forced, and they seem to have taken the best course available to them, IMO.
Allowing the “flotilla” to get closer to their blockade was pointless, and only put their forces in more danger from assistance available from belligerent states near their territory, so waiting until they were in “territorial” waters was not a viable option.
Even al Jazera is only claiming 60km, about 30 nautical miles. Not hundreds. 3 hours at 10 knots. 6 hours at 5 knots.
I'll wager it was even less than 60 km.