A ship bound for Gaza tried to break through Israel’s blockade on Saturday, and Israeli troops took over the ship. The MV Estelle, a Finnish-flagged ship carrying a crew of international activists, was captured and boarded by Israel Defense Forces soldiers without any resistance.

The MV Estelle left port in Sweden four months ago and has made numerous stops at European ports along the way, picking up additional activists and drumming up support for its mission. On board were high-profile activists from many Western nations, including lawmakers from Sweden, Norway, Spain and Greece, as well as Israeli activists and a former Canadian minister of parliament.

The incident is the latest in a series of deliberate provocations aimed at denouncing Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The blockade has been in effect since 2007, when Israel instituted the blockade to prevent the smuggling of weapons into the region after Hamas gained control of it. Since then, a number of flotillas have sailed for Gaza under the auspice of providing aid to the region. One such expedition made international news in 2010 when Israeli troops were attacked while boarding a flotilla from Turkey, resulting in the death of nine Turkish activists.

Last week, Israel asked the United Nations to take action to stop such flotillas, specifically the Estelle.

“I call on the secretary general, the Security Council, and all responsible members of the international community to take immediate action to end this provocation,” said Israel’s Ambassador Ron Prosor. “Their clear provocation raises tensions and could easily spark a serious escalation of the conflict.”

Israel maintains that these flotillas are not concerned with delivering humanitarian aid, but rather with sending a political message. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the latest incident nothing more than an attempt “to provoke and slander Israel’s name.” He noted, “If human rights were really important to these activists, they would have sailed for Syria.” Speaking of the true intent behind the Estelle voyage, Prosor said, “They understand that it is much easier to face news cameras in Tel Aviv than bullets in Damascus.”

Israel is continually portrayed as oppressors of Palestinians in Gaza, accused of denying the people access to basic needs. But as Prosor pointed out, “There is not a single civilian good that cannot enter Gaza.”

Stories like the Estelle are just minor events that the media will continue to jump on in support of the effort to demonize Israel. Watch for this event combined with recent attacks in Gaza to stir up more animosity against Israel and give more support to the enemies that surround them.