The bodies were flown from Israel to Istanbul, along with more than 450 activists, to a heroes' welcome.

Israel has said there is no need for an international inquiry into the incident, insisting its own will meet the "highest international standards".

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) voted earlier to set up an investigation.

US President Barack Obama has described the situation as "tragic".

He argued the flotilla had been aiming not to deliver humanitarian aid to Gazans, but to break Israel's blockade.

It was Israel's duty to prevent rockets and other weapons being smuggled into Gaza to Hamas by Iran and others, he said.

Turkey, which has had relatively warm ties with Israel in recent history, recalled its ambassador after the incident on May 31

.Its President, Abdullah Gul, said relations between the two countries would "never be the same".

"This incident has left an irreparable and deep scar" on relations, he told reporters in Ankara.

In a fiery speech at Istanbul airport, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc accused Israel of "piracy" and "barbarism and oppression".

Crowds of people, some wearing Palestinian-style scarves, gathered in the city to meet the coffins, swathed in Turkish flags, at the Ottoman-era Fatih mosque.

The funerals took place in a strongly Islamist part of the city and emotions were running high.

One of the bodies was due to be buried in Istanbul while the other eight were being taken to their home towns.