“Given that an effort is underway by the vessel Estelle to break the Gaza blockade, and that Greek citizens intend to participate and bearing in mind the UN positions on the need to supply humanitarian aid to Gaza through official channels, the stated intention of the Israeli government not to allow vessels to approach the Gaza coast, and the immediate danger to human life and safety that is entailed in participating in the endeavor in question, particularly in light of the events of 2010 the Foreign Ministry urges the Greek citizens not to participate in the Estelle initiative.”

The Estelle, a sailing ship with pro-Palestinian activists carrying humanitarian aid which first set off from Sweden and left Naples in Italy on October 6, stopped in international waters off the island of Crete Tuesday afternoon, where it loaded up with food and passengers.

The ship then continued its journey with five lawmakers on board — one from Sweden, one from Spain, two Greeks and a Norwegian, the spokesman for the Ship to Gaza Sweden movement, told AFP.

In addition to urging the Greek citizens not to participate in the endeavor in question, the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General, Ambassador Kaskarelis, on the instructions of Foreign Minister Avramopoulos, today called Israeli Ambassador Aryeh Mekel to the Foreign Ministry, reiterating to him Greece’s well known positions and stressing that the Israeli authorities ensure the safety and protect the lives of the Greek citizens who are reportedly taking part in the attempt to break the Gaza blockade.

The ship is part of the “Freedom Flotilla” movement. The movement’s first attempt to break the blockade ended in the deaths of nine Turkish activists after Israeli Navy commandos on May 31, 2010 boarded the Mavi Marmara in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

A second attempt to break the blockade last summer with a coalition of ships setting sail from Athens failed after Greek authorities intercepted the boats, banning their departure.

The Estelle, carrying 17 activists  including Canadian, Norwegian and Swedish nationals left from the port at Naples, Italy on Saturday. The vessel, which measures 173 feet long, reportedly is carrying humanitarian goods.

The leader of the Norwegian section of the group “Ship to Gaza,” Torstein Dahle, told Reuters that the groups’ goals were the same as that of previous flotillas, namely to end the blockade and bring relief to the people of Gaza.

It will take about two weeks to reach Gaza’s territorial waters, according to AFP.

The ship is part of the “Freedom Flotilla” movement. The movement’s first attempt to break the blockade ended in the deaths of nine Turkish activists after Israeli Navy commandos on May 31, 2010 boarded the Mavi Marmara in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Estelle began its journey in Sweden and toured Europe, including Finland, Spain, and France before arriving last week in the Gulf of Naples.

As part of its illegal blockade on Gaza, Israel’s naval blockade extends to around 37 kilometers from the coast of Gaza, but previous Israeli attacks against solidarity ships were carried out as far as 65 kilometers from the shore.

A second attempt to break the blockade last summer with a coalition of ships setting sail from Athens failed after Greek authorities intercepted the boats, banning their departure.

In November last year, the Israeli navy also intercepted two Irish and Canadian ships  that were trying to breach the blockade in international waters off Gaza.