On May 31, 2010, Israeli forces raided the Mavi Marmara, a ship part of a flotilla aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The incident resulted in the deaths of several Turkish activists, sparking international outcry and condemnation. The Mavi Marmara was the lead ship in a convoy of vessels that set sail with the intention of breaking the blockade of Gaza, which has been described as illegal under international law. The flotilla was organized to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been under blockade since 2007. The raid occurred in international waters, approximately 65 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. The Gaza Strip has been under blockade since 2007, following the election of Hamas, a Palestinian political and military organization, to power. The blockade has been maintained by Israel and Egypt, citing security concerns. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been a subject of international concern, with reports of shortages in essential supplies and restrictions on the movement of people and goods. The raid on the Mavi Marmara led to a significant diplomatic fallout between Israel and Turkey, which had previously been allies. The incident also highlighted the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, as well as the broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The United Nations established a fact-finding mission to investigate the incident, which concluded that the Israeli blockade of Gaza was unlawful and that the Israeli military's use of force during the raid was excessive and disproportionate. The mission also called for an end to the blockade and for Israel to provide reparations to the victims and their families.