Israel tows ship bound for Gaza Strip

Jerusalem —- The Israeli navy intercepted a ship carrying humanitarian supplies from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip and towed the vessel into port Thursday, foiling a new attempt by international activists to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory.

It was the first time Israeli forces had actually seized an aid ship. The navy has let some boats in and turned others around, including one carrying former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney in December.

The interception was condemned by Lebanon and Syria, adding to regional tensions in the wake of last month’s devastating Israeli offensive against the Islamic militants of Hamas who control Gaza.

Meanwhile, talks in Egypt to cement a long-term cease-fire in Gaza ran into obstacles Thursday, and a Hamas delegation left Cairo without agreeing to a truce deal.

In an apparent slap at Hamas, Egyptian officials reported that security officers frisked the delegation and confiscated $9.5 million to $11.5 million in dollars and euros. The cash was deposited in an account in Egypt, and the delegation was allowed to return to Gaza, a security official said. It was not clear what would happen to the money.

The Gaza fighting ended Jan. 18 when Israel and Hamas declared separate cease-fires. Some incidents of violence, notably rocket fire into Israel and Israeli airstrikes on arms-smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, have marred the informal truce, but Egyptian efforts to stabilize the situation had appeared to be making progress.

It was unclear if Hamas’ exit Thursday marked a crisis or a last-gasp push for more concessions in the group’s indirect negotiations with Israel. Egypt, which is mediating, had hoped for an accord Thursday, but further talks were expected next week.

In violence late Thursday, the military said troops fatally shot a Palestinian who threw a grenade near the Gaza-Israel border. It said soldiers entered Gaza briefly to search the area.

The long blockade of Gaza and the ensuing hardships for its people have spawned an effort by pro-Palestinian activists to sail ships into Gaza with supplies over the past few months.

The Danish Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the U.S. and other countries were discussing using an international naval force to stem the flow of smuggled arms to Gaza.

After letting several ships from Cyprus sail into Gaza, the Israelis drew the line Thursday, banning the vessel from Lebanon.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Lebanon does not have relations with Israel, and there was no way of knowing who or what was aboard.

Reporters for the Arab TV stations Al-Jadeed and Al-Jazeera, who were on the vessel, said Israeli sailors fired at the ship before boarding it and beating those on board. Gunfire could be heard in the telephoned reports broadcast by their stations.

The navy said no gunshots were fired aboard the ship but Israeli sailors had to overcome some resistance on the vessel. The navy towed the ship to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Israel pledged to deliver the aid supplies to Gaza over land, and Palmor said the ship would be sent home.

Late Thursday, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit signed expulsion orders for the 18 activists who were found on the boat. Fifteen were being taken to the Lebanese border and the other three —- a Briton and two citizens of India —- would be sent by plane to London, Israeli officials said.