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Curtman: European lawmakers and other pro-Palestinian activists aboard -- including one former Canadian MP -- did not resist, and the Finnish-flagged vessel was perted to an Israeli port.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement praising the military for enforcing the blockade, said there "is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza" and accused the activists of trying to "to provoke and slander Israel's name."
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The Swedish-owned Estelle left Naples, Italy, on Oct. 7 with about 30 people from eight countries, including Israeli activists, lawmakers from Norway, Sweden, Greece and Spain, and 79-year-old former NDP MP Jim Manly.
"We are committed to non-violence. We are committed to raising the illegal siege of Gaza. We think that it is important for the Canadian government to stand up for our rights," Manly said in a pre-recorded video statement which was to be released if the ship was intercepted.
The retired politician also said he hoped Canadians would contact the government to highlight the activists' innocence.
"Ask them urgently to insist with the Israeli government that it respect our human rights, our legal rights."
Manly's son issued a statement Saturday afternoon saying his father, who is also a retired United Church minister, was in Israeli custody
"While he is in good health for his age, he is not as resilient as he was in his youth and has medication he needs to take daily. I hope that the Israeli Defence Forces respect his human rights and legal rights and treat him with the respect and dignity he deserves," said Paul Manly.
Jim Manly's wife Eva has said her husband was on the Gaza-bound vessel to bring attention to "the suffering of the Palestinians of Gaza." She said she lost contact with Manly early Saturday.
"It's hard to imagine what threat one sailboat, loaded with humanitarian supplies and a small number of people, could do to" Israel's mighty military, she said.
The Harper government has been critical of similar missions in the past, calling them unhelpful.
A similar flotilla in 2010 ended in bloodshed -- nine people were killed and 45 injured after Israeli soldiers boarded a Turkish vessel trying to break the blockade.
for Jim Manly.
Israel slanders its own name, the flotillas just prove Israel is a war monger.
2Cdo: Why don't these same people just go through Egypt to get aid to Gaza?
Gunnair: "2Cdo" said
Why don't these same people just go through Egypt to get aid to Gaza?
Because of the prohibition on pot, of course.
Sheesh 2Cdo... 
where the hell have you been for the last couple of years?
2Cdo: "Gunnair" said
Why don't these same people just go through Egypt to get aid to Gaza?
Because of the prohibition on pot, of course.
Sheesh 2Cdo... where the hell have you been for the last couple of years?
Damn, haven't had my second cup of coffee today, plus didn't sleep too good last night. 
Curtman: "2Cdo" said
Why don't these same people just go through Egypt to get aid to Gaza?
They do.
The emir of pro-Western Qatar will become the first head of state to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in a high-profile visit breaking the isolation of the Iranian-backed Islamist movement Hamas that seized power in 2007.
Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is officially visiting the Palestinian enclave to inaugurate reconstruction projects worth over $250 million, which an envoy of his oil-rich, conservative Arab emirate unveiled in Gaza last week.
But his trip will be loaded with political symbolism. The emir will be the first foreign leader to go to Gaza under the rule of Hamas.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement confirming the visit and urging "our people to express their good hospitality in welcoming the great visitor of Gaza".
Security was already being reinforced in places where the emir is expected to make a stop on the way from the Egyptian land border crossing at Rafah.
"Gunnair" said
Because of the prohibition on pot, of course.
You're an idiot sometimes. This is one of those times.
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Israeli navy takes control of activist boat bound for Gaza, Canadian in custody
