Turkey's prime minister has said Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year was "cause for war" but that his country showed "patience" and refrained from taking any action.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Al-Jazeera television in a recent interview that the Israeli attack that killed nine activists occurred in international waters and was therefore "unlawful." His comments were carried by Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency late Sunday.

Erdogan said "It is a cause for war, but we decided to act in line with Turkey's grandeur and showed patience."

Israel insists its naval commandos acted in self-defense after being attacked by some of the activists.

A U.N. report into the raid said Israel's naval blockade was legitimate but that it used "excessive and unreasonable" force.