(CNN) -- The United Nations' Human Rights Council concluded Wednesday that Israeli forces committed serious violations of international law when they conducted a mid-sea interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla in an incident that left nine people dead. "The fact-finding mission concluded that a series of violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, were committed by the Israeli forces," said the 56-page report. The report described the circumstances of the deaths of "at least six of the passengers" as being "consistent with ... an arbitrary and summary execution." Israel has maintained its troops used force on the activists in May after they were attacked by those on board one boat. Soldiers were attacked with knives, metal poles and other objects, Israeli officials have said.
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Nine people were killed during interception of flotilla bound for Gaza
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A U.N. probe says Israeli forces used unnecessary violence
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Israel says council's conclusions are biased
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Report: Circumstances of some deaths were "consistent with ... summary execution"
The @placeholder, which indicated it spoke with more than 100 witnesses, said Israeli troops "demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence" against flotilla passengers during the May 31 interception.