JERUSALEM — The Israeli navy intercepted a ship carrying humanitarian supplies from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip and towed the vessel into port Thursday, foiling a new attempt by international activists to break Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory.
It was the first time Israeli forces seized an aid ship, after the navy let some boats in and turned others around.
The interception was condemned by Lebanon and Syria, adding to regional tensions in the wake of last month’s devastating Israeli offensive against the Islamic militants of Hamas who control Gaza.
Talks in Egypt to cement a long-term cease-fire ran into obstacles Thursday. A Hamas delegation left Cairo without agreeing to a truce deal.
In an apparent slap at Hamas, Egyptian officials reported that security officers frisked the delegation returning to Gaza and confiscated $9.5 million to $11.5 million in dollars and euros. The cash was deposited in an account in Egypt, and the delegation was allowed to return to Gaza, a security official said. It was not clear what would happen to the money.
The Gaza fighting ended Jan. 18 when Israel and Hamas declared separate cease-fires. Some incidents of violence, notably rocket fire into Israel and Israeli airstrikes on arms-smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, have marred the informal truce, but Egyptian efforts to stabilize the situation appeared to be making progress.
It was unclear whether the Hamas exit Thursday marked a crisis or a last-gasp push for more concessions in the group’s indirect negotiations with Israel. Egypt, which is mediating, had hoped for an accord Thursday, but further talks were expected next week.
In violence late Thursday, the Israeli military said troops fatally shot a Palestinian who threw a grenade near the Gaza-Israel border. It said soldiers entered Gaza briefly to search the area.
