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Two vessels carrying 27 pro-Palestinian activists are approaching the Gaza Strip and are close to Israeli territorial waters. One of the flotilla organizers said that the activists pledged in writing not to resist or confront Israeli naval forces.
"The two ships are close to Israel’s waters and their crew has been instructed not to resist naval forces who will attempt to stop them," Denis Kosseim told AFP. "Our representatives have signed a document where they pledged not to resist in case Israeli forces board the ship. We hope they will be able to return unharmed," Kosseim added.
The flotilla consists of one Canadian ship called Tahrir and an Irish yacht. On board the vessels are 27 activists, crewmen and journalists, including one Iranian reporter.
According to the organizers, the ships carry $30,000 worth of medical equipment for the people of Gaza.
Defense officials believe that the activists’ main aim is to cause provocation rather than help the Palestinians. Naval forces are planning to offer them to dock in Egypt or in the Ashdod Port and transfer the equipment to Gaza for them.
On Thursday, the ships were forced to slow down mainly due to stormy weather. "The last message we received from them was that they slowed down," an activist in the West Bank told Ynet.
"They said they prefer reaching Gaza in the daytime, to maximize their media exposure," they said.