India, July 27 -- Tel Aviv [Israel], July 27 (ANI/TPS) Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessel Handala late Saturday night as it attempted to breach the maritime blockade on Gaza, towing it to the port of Ashdod and detaining the 21 people aboard. According to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the ship -- registered as Navarn -- was stopped "from illegally entering the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza" and all passengers were "safe."

The Handala, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid and symbolically challenge Israel's blockade on Gaza. The group said the vessel was carrying 19 activists and two journalists from Al Jazeera, repres...