Israel intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla

JERUSALEM - Israel said it intercepted on Sunday a Gaza-bound European ship, in the latest attempt by international activists to break the 11-year Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave.

The motor vessel, named "Al Awda," or "The Return" in Arabic, was contacted by the Israeli military in international waters some 49 nautical miles from the port of Gaza city, the flotilla's organizers said on their website.

"A number of warships have appeared, so an attack, boarding and capture appear to be imminent, and we anticipate that all communications with the vessel will be lost shortly," the statement read.

The ship, which was sailing under Norwegian flag, carried 22 people from 16 nations, including human rights supporters, journalists, and crew. It also carried medical supplies worth 13,000 euro (15,174 US dollars).

"The Israeli Navy intercepted a ship that departed from Europe in order to violate the legal naval blockade that is imposed on the Gaza Strip," a spokesperson with the Israeli military said in a statement. "The ship was monitored and was intercepted in accordance with international law."

According to the statement, prior to the arrest, the Navy "clarified to the ship's passengers that they are violating the legal naval blockade." It added that Navy soldiers took over the ship and "the activity ended without exceptional events."

The Navy transferred the ship to the Port of Ashdod in southern Israel, the military said.

Several international flotillas tried to break the blockade but were stopped by the Israeli navy. The latest flotilla was stopped nine nautical miles off the coast of Gaza on May 29.

In 2010, six ships, carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials to Gaza, were blocked by Israel's navy commando unit in international waters off Gaza. Ten Turkish activists were killed in the raid.

Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade in 2007, shortly after Hamas won the elections in Gaza.

Under Israel's restrictive policy, Palestinians are not allowed to leave or enter the Gaza Strip. Israel allows only a small amount of goods to enter the Strip and bans most exports.

With the collapse of infrastructures, Gazans have only some four hours of electricity per day, and 97 percent of the drinking water is contaminated by sewage, according to official Palestinian figures.

The flotilla was part of the "Great March of Return," weekly demonstrations in Gaza that began on March 30 to protest the blockade. At least 136 Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others were injured by Israeli fire since the protest started.