Tel Aviv, May 1 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had successfully intercepted and turned back a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying activists.

In a post on X on Thursday, Netanyahu praised the Israeli Navy for stopping the vessels before they reached Gaza. "Well done to our Navy! I instructed them to prevent a Hamas-supporting flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza. The mission was executed with complete success," he said.

"No ship and no Hamas supporter reached our territory, and not even our territorial waters," Netanyahu added. "They were turned back and will return to their countries of origin. They will continue to see Gaza on YouTube."

The US State Department backed Israel's position. Spokesperson Tommy Pigott...