DHAKA: Activists sailing towards Gaza to challenge Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory have released videos saying they are not safe as Israel has broken international law and captured them.

In a statement the Israeli army said on Monday that it did not use force in redirecting the main boat ‘Marianne’ to the Israeli city of Ashdod, reports the Aljazeera.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army spokesman, said that the takeover of the flotilla happened after the vessel refused to listen to the warning of its navy and it happened quickly and ‘without anyone getting harm’.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the Israel Navy for detaining the passengers on the ship.

The vessel is part of the Freedom Flotilla III - a convoy of four ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists including Arab Israeli lawmaker Basel Ghattas, Tunisia’s former president Moncef Marzouki and at least one European lawmaker.

In a similar bid to break the blockade in 2010, a pre-dawn raid by Israeli commandos on the Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara killed 10 Turkish activists.

Several attempts since have been thwarted, but without bloodshed.

BDST: 1004 HRS, JUNE 29, 2015
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