I was also curious and have searched for some information. Apparently, there was a call by the UN to end the blockade. Related stories leading up this incident are here:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34863&Cr=gaza&Cr1=Security Council
6325th Meeting (PM)
Note: a complete summary of today’s Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, will be made available as press release SC/9940 after the conclusion of the meeting.
Background
The Security Council met today in an emergency meeting to discuss the unfolding situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Briefing
OSCAR FERNANDEZ-TARANCO, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, reported that, in the early morning hours, Israeli naval forces had boarded a six-ship convoy, which was heading towards Gaza. The stated purpose of the convoy was to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza. The convoy was reportedly carrying a range of educational, medical and construction materials and approximately 700 activists, citizens of several countries. Among their numbers were reportedly members of parliament from several countries.
He said that in the lead-up to today’s events, the Israeli authorities had conveyed their intention, both publicly and through diplomatic channels, not to allow the convoy to reach Gaza. The Israeli authorities had stated that should the convoy proceed contrary to those warnings they would divert it to an Israeli port, inspect the cargo, facilitate the entry of only those goods that were allowed into Gaza, in accordance with Israel’s blockade, and deport those on-board.
The organizers of the convoy had indicated their intention to proceed with their convoy and to attempt to deliver their full consignment of cargo to Gaza and to break the blockade, he said. A committee of persons organized by the de facto Hamas authorities in Gaza had been formed to receive the convoy.
He said that several Governments with nationals on-board the vessels had urged restraint from all sides and had indicated to the Israeli authorities their utmost concern that their nationals be protected. The Secretary-General’s Spokesperson last Friday had urged that all involved act with a sense of care and responsibility and work for a satisfactory resolution.
The convoy had been due to reach Gaza today, he said. According to the Israeli authorities, Israel naval forces had conveyed directly to the convoy during the early hours of this morning that they would not be allowed to reach port in Gaza. However, the convoy had proceeded towards Gaza. At approximately 0400 hours local time, the Israeli navy had acted to intercept the convoy. That had reportedly taken place some 40 nautical miles off the coast, in international waters. That reportedly had involved Israeli military personnel boarding the vessels, supported by naval ships and helicopters.
He said that Israeli forces had taken control of all six vessels. There had been serious violence on the main passenger vessel, a Turkish-registered ship named Mavi Marmara. He had also seen media reports of violence related to a Greek-registered ship, the Sfendonii. As a result of that violence, according to the latest information, at least 10 people had been killed and at least 30 injured, while at least six Israeli military personnel had been injured. There were no finally confirmed casualty figures at the current stage.
Given the circumstances, he said, “it is not possible to state definitively the sequence or details of what happened”. The Israeli Government had stated that the demonstrators on-board had used knives and clubs against Israel Defense Forces naval personnel, and possibly live fire, and that a weapon had been grabbed from an Israel Defense Forces soldier. Given that those who had been on-board the ships were now in Israeli custody, including reporters who were travelling with the convoy, and had had their transmission equipment confiscated by the boarding Israeli forces, further information from the organizers of the convoy had been minimal since this morning. “We have no independent information on what transpired.”
much more including statements of countries attending
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2010/sc9940.doc.htm