Israeli naval troops have stopped and boarded the Irish cargo ship "Rachel Corrie", which was trying to break the sea blockade of Gaza, Israeli radio reports.
The ship was stopped 35 miles (65 km) from Gaza at 05:45, local time. There are no reports of any resistance, according to Interfax.
The Irish information agency "Irishcentral" cites sources aware of the situation saying that the ship has been redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod. According to the agency, there are five pro-Palestinian Irish activists on board the ship, including the Nobel peace prize laureate of 1976 Mairead Corrigan-Maguire.
The "Rachel Corrie" was heading to Gaza loaded with medical equipment, 550 tonnes of cement, manuals and toys.
