Israeli military intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla boats off Cyprus coast

Tensions rise as Israel intercepts Gaza-bound activist boats. Representational Image/AFP

The Israeli military began intercepting several boats on Monday morning that are part of a flotilla attempting to break the Gaza blockade.

More than 50 vessels departed from the port in Marmaris last week in what the organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their journey to Gaza's shores.

The organisation's livestream showed several activists filming with cameras as Israeli military boarded their boats off the coast of Cyprus. An hour prior to the interception, Israel's Foreign Ministry called activists to "change course and turn back immediately."

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.