The International Criminal Court has said it will not launch a war crimes investigation into the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound ship in 2010, in which nine Turkish activists were killed.

The Turkish law firm that submitted the case said it would apply for a review of the decision.

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that although there was a "reasonable basis" to believe that Israel committed war crimes when it attempted to halt the Mavi Marmara, the court's remit was to focus on bigger-scale incidents.

Israel's Deputy Attorney General Roy Schondorf said: "Given the legally unfounded and politically motivated nature of the complaint, we thought it would have been more appropriate to dismiss the case right away, but better late than never.

"We also have some reservations with respect to some of the legal reasoning and several statements in the Prosecutor's report."

While taking control of the Mavi Marmara, Israeli commandos came under attack from dozens of activists brandishing knives and other weapons.

In the ensuing battle, the Israeli soldiers suffered seven casualties, two of whom were hit by bullets. In the course of the fighting, the commandos opened fire, killing some of the activists.

The Mavi Marmara was part of a flotilla of six ships attempting to break the blockade of Gaza.

The other five ships offered no resistance. Many of the Turkish activists have been linked to the pro-Hamas charity IHH.