There are plenty of lies being told on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, writes Gwynne Dyer.

The body of a Lt Tim O'Donnell and two of his injured comrades will fly back to NZ later today, the Defence Force says.

The body of slain NZ soldier Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell and his two wounded colleagues may be home as early as Saturday evening.

Kiwi volunteers hoping to take part in a Gaza aid convoy have been told by organisers they could be putting their lives in danger.

The three Gurkhas who died stood no chance. Two - believed to be British nationals - died in the operations room when it came under attack by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Israel has eased its regime for food imports to Gaza, allowing through items like herbs, biscuits, jam and canned fruits.

With the leadership of Recep Erdogan, Turkey is once more becoming a powerful player in the Middle East.

The Iranian Red Crescent is planning to send humanitarian aid by sea to Gaza in a brazen challenge to Israel's sea blockade.

Israel has said it will not accept a UN plan for a multinational investigation into the lethal commando raid on an aid flotilla.

Former New Zealand prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has been suggested to lead an inquiry into the raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla a week ago.

Six days after Israel's bloody assault on an aid flotilla that left nine foreign protesters dead, nobody can recount precisely what happened.

Israeli forces seized a Gaza-bound aid vessel peacefully and without meeting resistance on Saturday.