‘Less risky’ to intercept Gaza flotilla nearer Israel, former Israeli intelligence chief sayspublished at 13:27 BST
13:27 BST
Thomas Copeland
BBC Verify Live journalist
The Global Sumud Flotilla says it has entered what it is calling the “high-risk zone” 145 nautical miles from Gaza. It says that’s where the Israel Defense Forces’ navy has previously intercepted other flotillas trying to reach Gaza.
But a former Israeli naval intelligence chief has told BBC Verify that Israel’s military may move to intercept the vessels closer to the coast due to the presence of ships from other navies.
“If I was the decision maker, I would engage them inside Israeli territorial waters in order to avoid escalation,” Eyal Pinko told me.
“The Israeli navy has the full intention and the full will not to escalate with friendly navies and those who are on the ships,” he said.
BBC Verify has been tracking reports that the flotilla was being followed by the Italian navy frigate Alpino and the Spanish patrol vessel Furor – both of which have now said that they will sail further towards Israel.
Military vessels tend to mask their Automatic Identification Signal (AIS), that we usually use to track ships, for security and operational reasons. However, flight-tracking data shows an ATR 42-600 reconnaissance plane from the Turkish navy is operating south of Cyprus, close to the flotilla’s position.
Israeli news outlet YNet is reporting that an Israeli navy vessel has departed the port of Ashdod, north of the Gaza Strip, and will reach the flotilla’s position in the coming hours.
YNet also reported that local police forces are mobilising around 600 officers at Ashdod port.
