Israel troops board Gaza protest boat Dignite-al Karama

Israeli commandos have boarded a boat trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, the military says.

The Dignite-al Karama, the sole representative of an initial 10-vessel flotilla, had earlier been surrounded by warships and warned to change course.

A military spokeswoman told AFP news agency the boat was being towed towards the Israeli port of Ashdod.

She said the operation to board it had been conducted peacefully.

The Dignite-al Karama is part of Freedom Flotilla II, which has been trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza since the end of June. Flotilla organisers say despite the opening of Gaza's Egyptian border, the territory remains under "unlawful blockade" by the Israelis.

In an earlier statement, the Israeli military said the aid could be delivered without breaching the blockade.

"The Israel navy notified the Al Karama that it is on a route leading to an area under a maritime security blockade off the coast of Gaza, and reminded them any supplies they may have on board may be transferred, legally, through the existing land crossings and the Ashdod port," the statement said.
'No contact'

Protest organiser Julien Rivoire said at least three warships had surrounded the boat and communications had been jammed.

Speaking to AFP from Paris on Tuesday morning, Mr Rivoire said the French-flagged Dignite-al Karama had been stopped about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

"We can't get in touch with them by phone or by Internet," he said.

The activists' Twitter account said the navy asked for their location and they gave it to them. They said four navy ships were following the boat - three flanking their vessel on the left and one on the right.

One activist tweeted that the military had threatened to board the boat if it did not head away from the blockade.
Greek ban

On Monday, Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, a French activist on board the Dignite-al Karam told AFP the boat was only carrying a "symbolic message of peace and hope and love" and Israel had no reason to intercept it.

"We hope that they will not, we don't have a plan but we have a peaceful humanitarian mission. We are a peaceful boat flying a French flag."

Freedom Flotilla II said a ban on flotilla boats leaving Greek ports had stopped many of its vessels sailing. The Greek government said the ban was intended to protect activists.

Earlier this month, the captain of flotilla vessel The Audacity of Hope was arrested in the Greek port of Perama and charged with trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of passengers.

In 2010, nine Turkish activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the lead ship of the first Freedom Flotilla, causing an international outcry.

As a result, Israel eased its blockade on Gaza, which it says is necessary to stop weapons smuggling and put pressure on Hamas.

It increased sanctions on the impoverished Palestinian territory in 2006 after militants captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel tightened them further still a year later when Hamas ousted rival Palestinian organisation Fatah from the territory.

Although the Islamist group won Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006, it refuses to recognise Israel or to renounce violence and is designated in the West as a terror organisation.