Israel prevents Moldavian-flagged ship from reaching Gaza

The Israeli military prevented a Moldavian- flagged ship from reaching the besieged Gaza Strip Monday, a military spokeswoman said, DPA reported.

She said the ship was heading to Gaza from Egypt in the early morning. An Israel Navy patrol made radio contact and urged the captain to change course several times. But only when the Navy fired warning shots into the air did it turn around, she said.

Last year, Israeli naval commandos shot dead nine Turkish pro- Palestinian activists on board the Turkish Mavi Marmara passenger ship as it was heading to Gaza in a bid to breach the Israeli naval blockade of the coastal enclave.

Israel has since eased its blockade of the Strip, but still greatly restricts the export of goods and the movement of people through the crossings it controls.

It imposed the blockade in a bid to prevent weapons smuggling to Gaza, from where militants have fired rockets at southern Israeli communities.