A large Israeli warship was sighted in the vicinity of the Global Sumud Flotilla early Wednesday as organizers declared a state of high alert at sea.
Contact with the Alma, the flotilla’s lead ship, was briefly lost before being restored, an Al Jazeera correspondent aboard confirmed.
According to the correspondent, an Israeli vessel approached within five feet of the Alma, deliberately jamming its communication systems and shutting down its engine, leaving the ship disabled.
He reported that passengers on the Alma threw their phones into the sea as part of pre-set security protocols in anticipation of Israeli interception.
The correspondent later said the Israeli ship eventually withdrew, allowing the flotilla to resume its course toward the besieged Gaza Strip.
The flotilla, aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade, stated its vessels are currently about 121 nautical miles (225 kilometers) from Gaza’s coast.