A showdown is looming in the Mediterranean Sea as a flotilla of nine humanitarian aid ships approaches the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade. Israel is vowing to repel the Free Gaza Movement’s “Freedom Flotilla” after stopping at least three other sailings since January 2009. The ships are expected to reach the Gaza coastline by Friday. Israeli spokesperson Yigal Palmor vowed Israel would stop the ships.

Yigal Palmor: “This is not in the cause — for the cause of the Palestinian people, not for the cause of peace. This is just for the cause of provocation by people who care not about humanitarian aid or about the prospects of peace. And if they try to force their way into Gaza, after they have been warned time and again not to do so, after they have been warned that this is against international law, well, then they will have to be stopped.”

The flotilla is the largest to attempt to reach the Gaza Strip since Israel imposed the blockade on the coastal territory three years ago.