The seventh boat of the provocative Gaza-bound flotilla defied four Israel Navy calls not to enter the blockaded area on Saturday. Israeli commandos boarded it and sailed it to Ashdod.
The boat docked in the Ashdod port, with 8 crew members and 11 passengers aboard. Israel's Commando 13 force boarded the boat, facing no opposition.
Prior to that, in the morning hours, the Navy called upon the boat four different times to change course for Ashdod and unload whatever humanitarian supplies it has for Gaza there. The Israeli message was that the goods would be checked under international supervision and, if found to be of a humanitarian nature, would be sent to Gaza. The Navy further explained that a blockade was in force on Gaza, in accordance with international law, and that the ship would therefore not be allowed in.
All four calls were ignored, and the Navy finally boarded the ship, took it over peacefully, and sailed it to Ashdod.
The army announced that the passengers and crew would undergo processing by the Interior Ministry. Passengers on the other flotilla ships were given one-way plane tickets to the country of their choice.
The IDF Spokesman emphasized that "any body or country that wishes to send humanitarian aid to Gaza may do so in an organized manner at any time via the land crossings and in coordination with the Israeli authorities."