Flotilla activists welcomed home

Turkey's state-run television says an ambulance plane carrying activists wounded in Israel's deadly raid against Gaza-bound aid ships is the first to land in Turkey.

TRT television says the plane - carrying one Turkish and one Irish wounded activist - arrived at an air base in Ankara Wednesday. The injured are to be taken to a hospital.

Turkish television broadcast images of tens of thousands of people in an anti-Israel protest in Istanbul's main square.

Four more activists were released to Lebanon via Rosh Hankira, and were hailed as "heroes" by the local residents, who threw rice and flowers at them upon their arrival at Naqoura, after crossing the border. Dozens of people cheered, waving Lebanese, Palestinian, and Turkish flags.

Mass protest in Turkey (Photo: AP)

Ahmad al-Dahshan, a Palestinian who was on one of the ships, also returned to his home in the Gaza Strip. His family greeted him with hugs and kisses in Gaza City.

Two Turkish military jets have already taken off from Ben Gurion Airport, but Turkish authorities delayed the take off of three Turkish Airlines flights to carry out recounts and check the identities of the passengers.

The planes, which are being secured by police forces, may only take off Thursday morning.

The jets took off o Turkey and Greece despite an ongoing debate at the High Court of Justice. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered their release in an effort to minimize the damage done by the affair.

The IDF expressed frustration with the fact that the activists who attacked the commandos were also released. The nine bodies of those killed during the incident were also flown back to Turkey.

In total, 709 detainees were released. Seven remain hospitalized in Israel.

AP, AFP, Yoav Zitun, Amnon Meranda and Yael Branovksy contributed to this report