( CNN ) -- Israeli naval forces Tuesday successfully took over a boat of activists intent on breaking what they call the `` siege of Gaza '' without violent resistance . Benny Gantz , chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces , confirmed that naval forces had been ordered to seize the vessel , known as the Dignite , as it approached the coast of Gaza , where a maritime security blockade is in force . The forces `` operated in line with procedures and took every precaution necessary while using all operational tactics determined prior to the operation , and avoid causing harm to the activists on board while ensuring the safety of the soldiers , '' the IDF said . After the boarding , `` the passengers ' health was examined and they were offered food and beverages . '' The Dignite -- carrying 10 activists , three crew members and three journalists -- is affiliated with the Free Gaza Movement , whose aim is to break the `` siege of Gaza . '' Greta Berlin , spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement , said the boat declared its destination as Alexandria , Egypt , so that it could leave Greek waters . But it changed its destination in international waters , which is legal , Berlin said . Four navy boats surrounded the Dignite as it approached the coast of Gaza , the boat 's organizers said . After the Israeli Navy intercepted the vessel , it engaged in a `` dialogue '' with the activists `` in an attempt to dissuade them from continuing on their route '' toward a maritime security blockade off the Gaza coast , the IDF said . It said that any supplies on board `` may be transferred , legally , through the existing land crossings and the Ashdod port . '' However , the IDF said , `` all diplomatic channels had been exhausted and continuous calls to the vessel had been ignored . '' Given the groups ' `` unwillingness to arrive at the Ashdod port , '' the IDF said , `` it was unequivocally necessary to board the vessel and lead it to Ashdod . '' `` After all the options we suggested were refused , we decided to take over the yacht . We realized that the captain was lying . He lied to the authorities in Greece about his sailing route and changed it from Egypt to Gaza , '' said IDF spokesman Brig . Gen. Yoav Mordechai . The boat was taken to Ashdod , and the relevant security authorities and the Israel police were set to begin the process of questioning the passengers , who will then be transferred to the Ministry of Interior and the immigration authorities , officials said . Israel insists on controlling access to Gaza because it says it has to keep weapons out of the hands of Palestinian militants who would use them to attack Israelis . Gaza is run by Hamas , which has carried out dozens of terrorist attacks and is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization . Israel emphasizes that it delivers large amounts of aid to Gaza . The country mounted a diplomatic offensive to try to stop the flotilla from setting sail . The ship was part of a group of vessels that had planned to sail to Gaza in an effort to promote public awareness about Israel 's blockade of the area . The others were grounded in Greece . The activists connected with the Freedom Flotilla , as they call it , also wanted to commemorate a May 2010 incident in which Israeli troops boarded the Mavi Marmara , a Turkish ship filled with humanitarian aid and 700 activists from various countries . Nine people died in clashes with Israeli Navy commandos . `` The Dignite carries a message of solidarity and human empathy from the people of the world to the people of Gaza , and all of Palestine , that Israel 's violence can never silence , '' the group said .
Hamas seizes the Dignite without violent resistance from the 16 people aboard . They say they want to break what they call the ` ` siege of Gaza '' and says its blockade of Gaza 's borders is to keep weapons out of Hamas ' hands .