The Israeli Navy intercepted a ship carrying 18 pro-Palestinian activists on Monday who sought to violate the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The New York Times reported that the ship Marianne, carrying former President Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia, Ana Miranda Paz, a Spanish member of the European Parliament, activists, and journalists, was soon escorted to the southern Israeli port of Ashdod.
Three trailing ships calling themselves the Freedom Flotilla Three turned back after the Marianne was intercepted.
Recently re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement to the activists.
"If you were truly concerned about human rights, you would not be sailing in support of a terrorist regime which summarily executes citizens in the Gaza Strip, and uses children as human shields," he wrote.
In the past, boats have helped smuggle weapons into Gaza, which were used to attack Israel, causing it to execute defensive strikes. Thus, Israel instituted the maritime blockade. Together, Egypt and Israel allow only a small amount of building material into the country by land or sea, as militants there have similarly used them to construct tunnels into Israel to attack it.
International aid groups say the restrictions are excessive, and contribute to poverty and unemployment.
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