Israel stops ship trying to break blockade

ISRAELI naval commandos yesterday took over a French ship attempting to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, reporting no resistance during the takeover in international waters.

The navy boarded the ship after the 16 pro-Palestinian activists onboard ignored calls to change course.

The military has said it will stop any attempt to break the sea blockade of Gaza, which Israel imposed four years ago to prevent arms smuggling to Gaza’s ruling Hamas group. It said the vessel, the Dignity al-Karama, would be taken to Ashdod, a southern Israeli port.