JERUSALEM, MAY 31 — An Israeli cabinet minister voiced regret for deaths aboard Gaza aid ships seized by Israel’s navy today, the first official acknowledgement that the incident had turned fatal.

“The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities,” Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel’s Army Radio.

Meanwhile in Angkara, Turkey said today it “strongly protested” against Israel’s military action which killed about 15 people on board a convoy of aid ships that activists were trying to sail to the Gaza Strip.

“(The interception on the convoy) is unacceptable ... Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It said Ankara had called Israel’s ambassador to the ministry. — Reuters