Israel says its navy has boarded a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists attempting to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.The Israeli military said Saturday the operation was a peaceful and the passengers did not offer any resistance.
A military statement said the Finnish-flagged Estelle was being diverted to the port of Ashdod by Israeli vessels.
Mikael Lofgren, a media coordinator on board Estelle, told al-Jazeera that five or six Israeli vessels surrounded Estelle and soldiers wearing masks boarded the ship. Lofgren said the unarmed activists onboard the ship had done "lots of non-violence training." He said the ship was carrying footballs, cement, musical instruments, and children's books.
The Estelle is the latest of a series of activist-manned boats challenging Israel's blockade on Gaza. Most of the vessels have been similarly diverted.
In 2010, an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla killed nine activists on board the flagship, sparking international condemnation.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
A military statement said the Finnish-flagged Estelle was being diverted to the port of Ashdod by Israeli vessels.
Mikael Lofgren, a media coordinator on board Estelle, told al-Jazeera that five or six Israeli vessels surrounded Estelle and soldiers wearing masks boarded the ship. Lofgren said the unarmed activists onboard the ship had done "lots of non-violence training." He said the ship was carrying footballs, cement, musical instruments, and children's books.
The Estelle is the latest of a series of activist-manned boats challenging Israel's blockade on Gaza. Most of the vessels have been similarly diverted.
In 2010, an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla killed nine activists on board the flagship, sparking international condemnation.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.