Gun also expressed his sadness and concern at the killings, which have provoked international outrage. The brutal Israeli attack on civilians on the Freedom Boat, said Gun, is a disproportionate aggressive action against all international laws and human values.

“We protest strongly against the use of force against civilians who were just offering humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people under siege," said Gun, adding that the Israeli deputy foreign minister is lying when he spoke on the news that there were weapons, explosives and arms on the boat.

“What could old men, children and women have as weapons and how could they attack well-trained and armed troops and with what?" he asked.

The Ambassador stressed the boat carried only humanitarian aid, construction materials, stationary, clothes and food. He also emphasized that there are many ways to stop boats without the need for aggression and brutality.

There is no exact figure of the total death toll, said the Ambassador, adding that Israel will have to bear the consequences of violating international and humanitarian laws. “We are working toward bringing the whole matter to the attention of the international community, and exposing the brutal action of the Israelis against innocent and unarmed civilians. We will use all efforts to bring back the injured for treatment to Turkey," he added.

Turkey has in the past taken positive steps in mediating between Syria and Israel which resumed even after the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2008, he said, adding, "But now frankly with the last incident, bilateral Turkey-Israeli relations are facing irreversible consequences.”

He added that the fact that there were other nationalities on board the ship points at an aggressive attack against the international community, not only Turkey. "Should this act be a result of Israeli government directives, it is a shameful day for Israel," he said.

An official statement issued by the Turkish Embassy in Riyadh read "Whatsoever the motives might be, such actions against civilians who are involved only in peaceful activities cannot be accepted."

The statement also condemned Israel's inhuman acts. "Israel has once again clearly demonstrated that it does not value human lives and peaceful initiatives through targeting innocent civilians."

The secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, also strongly condemned the attack and described it as a breach of all international laws and values.

Ihsanoglu said the attack is a dangerous escalation and a bold violation of human values. He further held Israel responsible for the complete safety of all on board the boat and called on the OIC to demand a lift of the four-year Israeli siege on Gaza that has caused humanitarian and economic conditions to deteriorate.

Ihsanoglu also requested Islamic groups in Geneva and New York to act immediately and demand an emergency meeting at the UN’s Security Council and Human Rights Council to discuss the crime.

He also said that he will immediately contact OIC member states and other international bodies to act swiftly to put an end to Israeli violations in Palestinian lands and seek an investigation into the Israeli attack which took place in international waters and involved innocent civilians.

Samir Bakr, assistant secretary-general of the OIC, expressed his despair at Israel's attack, which he described as shocking. Those responsible for this crime must be brought to justice, demanded Bakr, and international efforts must not stop short before taking serious action against Israel's repeated violations against humanity.

A number of Saudi scholars have also expressed their anger and condemnation at the killing of people carrying humanitarian aid and relief goods in an attempt to break the criminal siege of Gaza which has been in place for well over three years.

“Zionist barbarism has no limits," said Shaikh Salman bin Fahad Al-Odah, the well-known Saudi scholar, who urged all Islamic rulers to bring a halt to any negotiations with Israel and withdraw any efforts to normalize relations with the Zionist state.

“The use of force by the Israelis on armless non-violent activists aboard the freedom ships is yet another sign of the deteriorating condition of the Zionist state," said Al-Odah. "It is a psychological defeat clearly shown to the whole world," he added.

On his part, Sheikh Ayedh Al-Qarny questioned the Arab reaction to the massacre. "We should all rise up against this aggression and forget our differences," he said, condemning the silence of over 1.5 billion Muslims.

"This act is not strange as these people are the killers of God's prophets," said Sheikh Naser Al-Omar, another Saudi religious scholar, lamenting the fact that western countries are supporting and showing solidarity to “our brothers in Gaza” while neighboring Muslim countries are helping with the blockade.

Solaiman A.M. Solaiman, a member of the Saudi civil society in the Eastern Province, blamed Arab countries for the sorry state of affairs in Palestine. "Since 1970 our countries have done practically nothing to stop the murderous onslaught of the Zionist state. Israel has had a free rein. It continues to kill and maim Palestinians with impunity. And here are our countries playing politics and busy dividing the Palestinians into Fatah and Hamas," he said with an air that reeked of resignation.

"Now is the time to use oil as a weapon. Now is the time to cut off all diplomatic ties with the United States. Now is the time to dictate terms to the supporters of Israel; they are weak economically and we are relatively stronger. We should use our economic clout to force President Obama to stop aiding the murderers," said Solaiman, adding: "It is never too late to make amends and confront the bully."

Saudi writer and researcher Abdullah Al-Alami described the attack as a clear violation of international law as it took place in international waters off the Gaza Coast. "Israel continues to lose international recognition. However, as long as it receives full support from the US, it will most likely get away with its crime even though the attack was conducted against human rights advocates, including 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland."

According to Al-Alami, Saudis feel angered and outraged especially because the US has not taken any meaningful action against Israel nor has made any announcement to that effect. "It is not enough for White House spokesman Bill Burton to say the US 'deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained' during the attack. There is more that the US should do," he said.

Al-Alami said Muslims and non-Muslims are united in their condemnation of Israel. "Look at what is happening in Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Sweden, England and many other European countries as a result of this monstrosity. We have had strong statements being issued by Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief, as well as the European Union itself," he pointed out.

There has also been strict condemnation of the attacks on the Arab street with the issue the focus of talks in offices, homes and coffee shops across the Kingdom.

"I am so upset over this unwarranted attack; my family members are still in a state of shock," said Wisaam, an Egyptian housewife in Riyadh. She said the world community should protest against the US which has always supported Israel.

"It is a crime against humanity. The international community should rise against this devious act," said Magdy, who works as a marketing executive in a private establishment. Magdy, who is from Cairo, said that if the world does not react, then Israel will become a bully in the region.

"This is a brutal act by the Zionist state against a humanitarian mission. Israel will pay dearly for this reckless operation in international waters. We are condemning Israel for mercilessly killing unarmed multinational volunteers. We urge the UN to sanction Israel for this murderous act," said S.H. Moulana who works in Riyadh as a marketing manager.

Turki Al-Saweel, a senior Saudi journalist, said there cannot be peace if the world does not react to this heinous attack by Israel. "It is sad that even the neighbors of Israel are not protesting. How can we expect the world to fight against these animals? This is not the first time that Israel has done this. The world has the responsibility to punish Israel for this criminal act and Israel cannot be treated as if it is above the law," he added.

"The innocent people on the boats were aiming for peace. Their mission was to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people besieged in Gaza and to break this unjustified blockade in a peaceful and civilized method," said Mufleh Al-Harbi, an elderly Saudi.

He added that the very name "Freedom Flotilla" implies the peaceful nature of the mission but the Zionist entity would not allow these people to express their views and play a humanitarian role in providing relief to Palestinians who die every day from hunger, torture and bullets.

"The voyage of Flotilla is enough proof that everybody was strongly backing the Palestinian people in their just cause," Al-Harbi said, calling on the world community to put an end to Israeli arrogance.

Morsi Al-Razmi, another old Saudi, said the Israeli aggression has not surprised him. "This is an entity which was built on killing and bloodshed. It is the duty of all countries and peoples of the world to end the blockade against Gaza and to extend immediate relief to the Palestinian people," he said.

Al-Razmi asked the big powers in particular to end the predicament of the Palestinian people which has been ongoing for several years and said condemnations are not enough. "The world should firmly stand against the continued Israeli aggressions," he added.

Yacoub Al-Hajri referred to the participation of a Kuwaiti boat in the fleet and said he was waiting to hear good news about the ship arriving in Gaza and unloading relief to the Palestinians. “Instead, we saw violence and bloodshed as a result of the flagrant Israeli attacks," he said. "The world should not keep silent," he demanded.

On its part the Global Anti-Aggression Campaign condemned “this new Zionist crime against humanity in the strongest possible terms, and calls upon all governments, political and legal commissions, human rights organizations, PVOs, and NGOs to take appropriate action in retaliation against the Zionist entity’s despotism that shows absolute no regard for human life and ignores scores of UN resolutions and all international laws.

“The Zionist piracy against this un-armed humanitarian convoy constitutes a flagrant declaration of war against all of humanity. The world community must act swiftly to ensure the release of the convoy and all those on board its ships in order to curtail the serious ramifications that this crime will have regionally and internationally. All those involved in the piracy should stand trial for their crimes against humanity while the Zionist entity should bear full responsibility for the dead and injured as well as the survivors of this crime who were on board the civilian convoy.

“The Global Anti-Aggression Campaign expresses its grave concern for the safety of its Vice President Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaii and the accompanying delegation of GAAC founding members, and holds the government of the Zionist entity directly responsible for their well being and safe return.”

(Muhammad Al-Sulaimi, Walaa Hawari, Siraj Wahab, Mohammed Rasooldeen and Khaled Al-Awad contributed to this report)