This time, the IDF and the protestors didn't have a violent clash as they did last May. Reuters:

The Israeli navy Friday boarded two boats carrying pro-Palestinian activists toward the Gaza Strip in a fresh challenge to Israel's blockade of the Islamist-controlled territory.

The military said in a statement the boats -- a Canadian vessel called Tahrir and an Irish boat named Saoirse -- which together had 27 people on board, would be taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

"The Israel navy soldiers operated as planned, and took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the activists onboard the vessels as well as themselves," the statement said.

A military source said nobody was injured in the operation.

In May 2010, Israeli commandos boarded the Turkish Mavi Marmara aid vessel to enforce the naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave, and killed nine Turks in clashes with activists, some of them armed with clubs and knives.

Israel spurned Ankara's demand for an apology over the incident. Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador two months ago.

Carrying a small amount of medical supplies, the Canadian and Irish boats had sailed from Turkey Wednesday. The Israeli military said they were in international waters when they were stopped, between 40 and 60 miles from the coast.

Some activists have already been repatriated back to their countries of origin. The rest are expected to be released soon.

One would think the activists learned their lesson in not resisting the Israeli navy. Beyond that, this particular flotilla got very little publicity given its small size and paltry cargo.