The Foreign Ministry stated that it had been in contact with the crew of the 'Madleen', and had advised the flotilla to change its course.

Madleen has 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Israel has ordered its military to block the vessel.

The British-flagged yacht Madleen, which is operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was aiming to deliver a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula, to Gaza later on Monday and raise international awareness of the humanitarian crisis there.