(JTA) — Israel plans to intercept two boats headed for the Gaza Strip and carrying medical supplies.
The boats, one Irish and one Canadian, left Turkey on Wednesday and the Israeli military expects them to reach Israeli-controlled waters by Thursday night or Friday, the Israeli media reported.
The army has offered to allow the ships to dock in Ashdod. The boats also are carrying letters of solidarity for Gazans.
Israel has pushed back a number of such ships attempting to breach its blockade of Gaza.
A commando raid on a Turkish-flagged ship in May 2010 resulted in the death of nine Turks on board and led to the further deterioration of ties between Israel and Turkey.
Israel has eased some of the conditions of its embargo since the prisoner exchange last month that freed Gilad Shalit, who had been held captive in Gaza since June 2006.
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