Israel boards ship off Gaza
October 20, 2012
The Estelle's crew sent a message that "Israeli navy soldiers" had boarded the three-mast ship when it approached to within 35 nautical miles (64 kilometers, 43 miles) of Gaza.
Israel's military said there was "no violence" during the boarding and the vessel was escorted to the southern Israeli port of Ashdod.
In May 2010 an Israel interception of a nine-ship flotilla ended in the killing of eight pro-Palestinian Turkish activists and an American of Turkish descent when Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara. A United Nations inquiry later faulted Israel for using "excessive" force.
In November last year, the Israeli navy intercepted two Irish and Canadian ships carrying protestors who were trying to breach the blockade.
Blockade to hinder arms
Israeli imposed the naval blockade on Gaza in 2006, saying it was necessary to prevent weapons reaching militants in the small territory which is run by the Islamist movement Hamas.
Palestinians have described the blockade as collective punishment for Gaza's 1.6 million residents.
Activists on previous Gaza-bound flotillas who were detained by Israel's navy were later deported.
The Estelle had set sail from Sweden several weeks ago, stopping off in Finland, France and Spain before leaving the Italian port of Naples on October 6.
ipj/jlw (AFP, dpa, Reuters)