Mr Luqman said he was on the back deck of the flotilla flagship the Mavi Marmara, running to get inside, when he saw a laser sight settle on his leg.

srael says its troops were justified in opening fire after being attacked by a small band of violent activists, but Mr Luqman says that is simply fiction.

"None of us know anything about fighting and none of us intended to fight. [We're] peaceful people," he said.

He denied any of the activists were looking for a confrontation and said some simply responded defensively when the Israelis opened fire.