From Cliff Thies:

The following is a link to 3 video clips of the boarding of the ship that attempted to break the Isaeli/Egyptian blockade of Gaza:

See other two videos at Cypress Times.

From the clips, it is clear that some of those aboard the ship were anxious for, and planned a confrontation. Others may have spontaneously joined in, due to the emotion.

That is, the clips show that a variety of weapons were on board, either smuggled or fashioned on board, such as wooden and metal clubs and "home-made" bombs, but also including some stun grenades and long knives.

The clips also showed that persons on board the ship initiated violence against the IDF forces boarding or attempting to board the ship by small boat or by rappelling off a helicopter.

The first couple commandoes alighting the ship from the helicopter were overwhelmed by those on the boat, and, it can be surmised, only after several others also alighted the ship were they able, with the use of deadly force, able to defend themselves and take charge of the ship.

Obviously, the purpose of the confrontation was to radlicalize Muslims and to appeal to mush-brained liberals throughout the world. '60s radical like Bill Ayers, who is reported to have supported the effort, would know all about such things.