OTTAWA— The Canadian government refused to join an international chorus of condemnation of a botched Israeli raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla outside territorial waters that left at least 10 dead and many more injured.

Amidst a diplomatic crisis that erupted around the world, Canada and the U.S. - two of Israel’s staunchest Western allies - appeared to coordinate a message that expressed regret over the lost lives but did not denounce the military pre-dawn action that took place in international waters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa early Monday before cutting short his two-day visit, and cancelling a trip Tuesday to Washington.

“Canada deeply regrets this action, the loss of life and the injuries that have occurred,” Harper said. “Obviously we’ll be looking in the days that follow to get all the information we can get to find out what has transpired here,” he told Netanyahu in front of cameras.

Harper added he was “sorry this has coloured this (visit) but delighted” he could meet with Netanyahu, however briefly.

Amid conflicting reports citing Israeli defence sources and the pro-Palestinian activists involved in the flotilla that was headed to Gaza to break an Israeli blockade, the White House also issued a cautious response.

Mid-afternoon Monday, President Barack Obama spoke by phone to Harper about “the current situation in the Middle East,” along with G8/G20 issues, said Harper aide Dimitri Soudas in a brief advisory to reporters.

Statements from White House aides mirrored Harper’s, saying Obama had "expressed the importance of learning all the facts and circumstances" surrounding the incident. A scheduled Obama Memorial Day speech was cancelled due to a thunderstorm.

Netanyahu said the soldiers were forced to defend themselves after they were “deliberately attacked.”

“They were mobbed, they were clubbed, they were beaten, stabbed, there was even a report of gunfire, and our soldiers had to defend themselves, defend their lives or else they would have been killed,” he said Monday during a photo opportunity with Harper, at which reporters were barred.

Netanyahu added: “Regrettably in the exchange at least 10 people died. We regret this loss of life. We regret any of the violence that was there. I would like to wish speedy recovery to the wounded, including four of our own soldiers.”

But the NDP and Bloc Québécois joined a number of international leaders, and countries, which called for an independent international investigation into the incident.

The Liberals, on the other hand, hewed closer to the Harper government’s reaction, issuing a statement that “While we will always support Israel’s right to self-defence, a measured response is important when dealing with security threats in this region.”

Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh said while the Israeli raid “has hurt the cause of peace” in the Middle East, so would unnecessary posturing and engaging “in a blame game.”

“When you have international inquiries in situations like this, you unnecessarily politicize and polarize the issue,” said Dosanjh. “It doesn’t help to polarize the issue.”

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen said NATO was “deeply concerned” about the loss of life. Rasmussen also said that NATO is seeking further clarification of what happened.

Netanyahu said he had spoke early Monday with Obama.

“We both agreed we have to have very close consultations right now,” and will try to reschedule the Washington meeting at the “earliest date possible.”

He said both Obama and Harper “understand that Israel has a great security problem.”

Netanyahu later refused to answer questions from Canadian reporters as he left Parliament Hill.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for a full investigation and expressed shock at the incident.

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“It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place. I believe Israel must urgently provide a full explanation,” he said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of official mourning for the dead.

“What Israel has committed on board the Freedom Flotilla was a massacre,” said Abbas.

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