Israeli Official Hoping For "Minimum Damage" As Flotilla Approaches

A senior official in the Israeli government told reporters Tuesday that the country hopes to respond to the flotilla of human rights activists approaching Gaza with “minimum damage.”

“I don’t want to go into tactics, we try to do it the best way we can,” Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor said during a conference call. “It’s not a war,  you don’t shoot people.”

Currently, activists and Palestinian supporters are sailing toward Gaza with two cargo ships and seven passengers boats in what organizers describe as a symbolic campaign to challenge Israel to ease their policies towards Gaza.

However, Meridor said Tuesday that the goal of the flotilla was flawed.

“Now it’s clear, Gaza is open. Nothing is in the shortage there. Everything’s open.” Meridor said. 

In 2010, Israeli forces boarded ships that made up a previous humanitarian flotilla and killed nine activists in the resulting brawl.