An Israeli army video has revealed ne of the leading activists on the Mavi Marmari telling the people on it to be prepared to be “martyrs”.

Boat commander and IHH leader Bulent Yildirim, urges his followers to throw Israeli soldier overboard, saying: “If they board our ship we will throw them into the sea, Allah willing.”

Mr Yildirim states that "a million martyrs" will be “marching towards Gaza.”

Mr Yildirim repeatsthrough his Arabic translator that Israel is not a state and how the activists must not be “cowards”.

“If we show fear, they will win once again,” he says.

The Foreign Ministry said the footage was found among the possessions of one of the flotilla's passengers.