The Navy is monitoring two vessels carrying foreign pro-Palestinian activists which recently left Turkey en route to Gaza.
The two-boat flotilla, arranged by Irish and Canadian pro-Palestinian organizations, consists of one 20-meter vessel called Al-Tahrir (freedom) and a small yacht, and is carrying 20 to 30 people from several countries, including an Arab Israeli, and a number of journalists, a defense official said.
The activists told Turkish authorities that they are sailing towards the Greek island of Rhodes.
"We don't believe they are seeking violence. But the IDF is ready. The Navy is following developments. We won't allow them to enter," the source said. "We're not aware of any IHH presence," he added, referring to the radical Turkish group that arranged the 2010 flotilla to Gaza, which ended in deadly clash between activists and navy commandos.
The vessels will be allowed to dock in Ashdod, the source added.
Israel's naval closure is a fully legal measure to prevent the smuggling of arms to terror organizations in Gaza, and has been endorsed by the UN Palmer report, the official said.
The vessels are expected to approach the Israeli-Gazan area on Thursday night or Friday morning, but could hit rough seas, according to weather predictions.
Activists said that the boats were carrying "symbolic cargo," consisting of $30,000 in medicines as well as activists "committed to nonviolent defense of the flotilla and Palestinian human rights."
By YAAKOV LAPPIN AND JPOST.COM STAFF
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