A UNITED Nations panel has concluded Israel's armed raid on a flotilla carrying Turkish and other foreign activists and humanitarian supplies to the Gaza strip last year was legal, but that its use of force in an operation that left nine people dead was ''excessive and unreasonable''.

The report concluded that Israel had a legal right to maintain a naval blockade of Gaza, but it called on the Israeli government to offer a public expression of ''regret'' for the deaths and injuries on the Mavi Marmara, where the most violent clashes occurred, and to pay compensation. The May 2010 raid on the flotilla, which was organised in Turkey, threatened to torpedo the rapprochement between Israel and Turkey.

The report said the Israeli government had failed to provide a ''satisfactory explanation'' as to how and why the nine passengers were killed: ''Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range has not been adequately accounted for in the material presented by Israel.''

The Israeli government declined to officially comment but an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: ''The report clearly endorses Israel's position regarding the legality of the naval blockade and its enforcement. We accept the report and its recommendations and we hope that Turkey will do the same, opening a new possibility for reconciliation in spite of everything.''

NEW YORK TIMES