Israel’s navy intercepted the large flotilla attempting to break its maritime blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, after the military issued a final warning for the pro-Palestinian fleet to change course.

The Israeli Navy operation, which came as the country marked Yom Kippur, began on Wednesday evening and continued overnight and into Thursday.

Over 12 hours, forces of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit boarded 41 of the ships in the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining some 400 activists aboard after jamming their signals and spraying them with water cannons. The activists had claimed that 47 boats were involved in the flotilla, but some apparently turned back at earlier stages.

The Navy’s Missile Ship Fleet, Snapir harbor security unit, and other units were involved in intercepting the flotilla. The six largest vessels in the flotilla were boarded first, with the smaller ones being tackled later, according to the military.

Shortly before 2 p.m., Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the “provocation” by the Global Sumud Flotilla “is over,” without any major incidents reported.

“None of the Hamas-Sumud provocation yachts has succeeded in its attempt to enter an active combat zone or breach the lawful naval blockade,” the ministry said.

The ministry said that “all the passengers are safe and in good health. They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe.”

One of the Israeli Navy’s new landing craft, or logistics support vessels, was seen arriving at Ashdod Port with some of the detained activists. All 41 vessels were also being towed to the port.

More than 600 police officers, along with prison officials and immigration representatives, were deployed to Ashdod Port to receive the detained activists, police said.

On Thursday night, police said that over 250 of the activists underwent a “thorough inspection process,” and were handed over to the Population and Immigration Authority and the Israel Prison Service.

“The operation is continuing at this very moment and will continue into the night until the handling of the last boat in the flotilla is completed,” police added.

One of the flotilla’s boats, with mechanical issues unrelated to the military’s actions, remained at sea at a distance from Gaza. The ministry said that “if it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented.”

Contrary to claims made by some........

© The Times of Israel