The small provocateur boat from Cyprus seeking to dock in Hamas-controlled Gaza was boarded by soldiers from the navy’s elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit on Tuesday afternoon, bringing an end to yet another media fiasco.

The vessel was flying under a Greek flag, departing from a Cypriot port carrying 20 so-acclaimed peace activists from 11 countries, including a former American senator, Cynthia Makini, Irish Nobel Prize laureate Ms. McGrath, along with medical supplies, toys and humanitarian aid. The peace activists as they call themselves identify with a California based organization demanding freedom for Gaza.

The naval commandos boarded the vessel after its crew failed to adhere to navy attempts to make contact. Officials point out that no force was used. The vessel docked in the Port of Ashdod and Israel reports the humanitarian aid will be delivered to Gaza via one of the land crossings.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)