The captain of a Libyan vessel attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza has abandoned course and agreed to sail to an Egyptian port after receiving an ultimatum from the Israeli navy, Israeli media reported.

The captain of the Libyan ship Al Amal assured Israeli officials that the activists aboard the vessel will obey his orders as he reroutes toward the Egyptian port of El Arish, Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported.

The Israeli navy intercepted the Al Amal about 300 miles off the coast as the Libyan ship motored toward Gaza to deliver aid to the region, which is blockaded by land and sea.

Israeli officials issued an ultimatum to the crew, ordering it to change course and head for the Israeli port of Ashdod or Egypt’s El Arish by midnight or face commandeering on the water.

The standoff at sea comes six weeks after the Israeli navy intercepted a Turkish flotilla bound for Gaza in a violent clash during which nine Turkish activists were killed and several Israeli commandos were injured.

(Source: Fox News)