The Israeli navy has peacefully intercepted two boats of activists who were attempting to breach the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Soldiers boarded the boats under the order of IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz after the activists refused to heed calls to change course.

A spokesman for the IDF said: "The soldiers operated as planned, and took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the activists onboard the vessels as well as themselves."

The 27 people on board are being sailed to the port of Ashdod where they will be taken into police custody.