Israel stops boat on way to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza

Tel Aviv: Israeli police on Sunday stopped a boat from entering the Gaza Strip with a cargo of food and medical supplies.

The Israeli Arab Islamist Movement organised what was to have been the first boat journey from Israel to the Gaza Strip with humanitarian supplies.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the boat's owner was warned he would be arrested if his boat tried to set off for Gaza.

Israeli law bans Israeli citizens from travelling to the Gaza Strip. Israel has tightened travel restrictions on Gaza in retaliation to militant attacks from the territory.

Ahmad Tibi, a member of Israel's parliament, called Sunday's ban a "cowardly act" and promised to "continue to try to break the siege".