At a meeting, members of the cabinet were told by security officials Tuesday night that the Gaza flotilla ships held at least 40 professional mercenaries, some affiliated with Al Qaeda, apparently hired to engage IDF soldiers in combat. The terrorists were found with significant amounts of urban warfare equipment. On the Marmara, the ship where nine terrorists were killed, most of the activists were sent below deck, while the mercenaries remained on the roof to battle IDF troops.