Israeli military intercept activists sailing Gaza Strip

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Israeli military intercepted activists sailing Friday, November 4, toward the Gaza Strip, boarding their two small boats and forcing them to head instead toward an Israeli port.

According to Los Angeles Times, the pro-Palestinian protesters, including a Washington state woman, were attempting to break a sea blockade, the third such attempt in less than two years.

Israeli officials said the takeover of the two supply boats carrying 27 activists, journalists and crew members occurred without the violence seen in May 2010, when nine Turkish activists, including one with dual U.S. citizenship, were shot to death as they resisted takeover by Israeli commandos.

The latest ships, the Canadian-owned Tahrir and Irish-owned Saoirse, were escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where crew and passengers were expected to be detained for questioning.

Organizers of the flotilla vowed to launch more protest ships in coming months to highlight Israel's sea and land blockade of Gaza that prevents the free movement of people and trade into the seaside territory.