Americans Warned Not To Sail In Gaza Flotilla

The Associated Press reports:

The State Department is warning Americans against participating in an international flotilla aimed at breaking Israel's sea blockade of the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

In a new travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, the department says the Gaza coast is "dangerous and volatile."

The advisory notes that the Israeli navy has stopped previous attempts to enter Gaza by sea, and that's resulted in deaths, injuries and arrests.

The U.S. says those participating may face arrest, prosecution and deportation. Israeli authorities say they will seek to ban anyone attempting to break the blockade from traveling to Israel for 10 years.

A group of 36 U.S. citizens has announced plans to sail aboard a U.S.-flagged vessel in a flotilla to this month to challenge the blockade.