July 19, 2011

The Israeli navy intercepts the French Freedom Flotilla II boat as it nears Gaza, boarding it after it refuses orders to change direction; the activists onboard are detained without resistance. Unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket from Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with air strikes on several Hamas targets nr. Gaza City, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF dismantles an irrigation network watering 25 d. of Palestinian agricultural land along a settlers-only bypass road nr. Hebron; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (AFP, JP, NYT, PCHR, WAFA, WP, WT 7/20; OCHA 7/22)