JERUSALEM — Israeli naval commandos on Tuesday seized control of a French ship attempting to break Israel's sea blockade of the Gaza Strip and towed it into port, reporting no resistance during the takeover in international waters.
The incident was the latest in a series of run-ins on the high seas between the Israeli navy and pro-Palestinian activists trying to breach the blockade. In the most contentious incident, nine Turkish activists were killed in a clash with Israeli commandos last year.
Tuesday's standoff was far more subdued. The navy intercepted the "Dignity al-Karama" some 40 miles (65 kilometers) off the coast and boarded the ship without incident after the crew ignored calls to change course.
"The takeover was orderly and done with restraint," the navy's deputy commander, Brig. Gen. Rani Ben-Yehudah told reporters at the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. "Nobody was hurt and the ship wasn't damaged."
The military had warned it would stop any attempt to break the sea blockade of Gaza, which Israel imposed four years ago in what it says is a measure to prevent arms smuggling to Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group.
The boat was not carrying aid supplies.
The white boat was taken to the port in Ashdod, where foreign activists were to be questioned and then deported "to their countries of origin as soon as possible," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
Passengers included activists from France, Sweden, Canada and Greece. There were also three journalists, including an Israeli, and several crew members.
The Dignity al-Karama was the only ship remaining from a larger protest flotilla that had hoped to sail weeks ago but was blocked by Greek authorities. The activists, who managed to sail out of Greece on Saturday, say they want to draw attention to the situation in Gaza, whose economy has been hit hard by years of closure.
The France-based Platform Palestine group, one of the organizers, said the Israeli takeover "clearly shows the military logic of Israeli politics, which only speaks the language of force."
In the past, there have been charges that Israel's seizure of boats on the high seas is piracy and contrary to international law. Israel claims it has the right to enforce a quarantine on Gaza to prevent weapons from reaching the territory's militant Hamas rulers, and many international law experts have backed up Israel's contention.
In a text message sent to reporters, the Hamas government in Gaza condemned the seizure of the boat.
Israel imposed the embargo in 2007 after Hamas, an Iranian-backed militant group dedicated to Israel's destruction, seized control of Gaza.
Critics say the blockade has failed to weaken the group and instead has hurt the territory's economy, collectively punishing its 1.6 million people.
Israel withdrew its forces and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but it continues to control most border crossings, as well as its coastline and airspace.
During last year's deadly clash, Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish ship trying to reach Gaza, and then battled knife and club-wielding activists on board. Both sides have said they acted in self defense.
Israel was harshly criticized for the May 2010 incident, forcing it to ease its land blockade of Gaza, but the naval embargo has remained intact.
The Israeli navy has been feverishly training to modify its tactics in hopes of avoiding bloodshed. Since last year's deadly raid, it has intercepted two blockade-busting boats without incident.
The Israeli military released video footage of what it said was Tuesday's takeover. It showed several soldiers on board the Dignity al-Karama as a pair of navy boats bobbed in the water nearby. The military said the operation went smoothly, and soldiers gave the activists water and snacks.
With the land blockade greatly eased, large amounts of consumer goods now flow into Gaza. But restrictions remain on importing construction materials, which are sorely needed to repair damage caused by an Israeli military offensive two years ago. Israel says items like metal, cement and glass could be diverted for military purposes, and has approved individual construction projects in coordination with the international community.
Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.