Israel says its navy commandos seized a ship carrying advanced weapons to militants in Gaza.  The Israelis claim shipment originated in Syria and was sent to Iran, where it was loaded onto the cargo that was intercepted in International Waters in the Red Sea. 

“We don’t have the full plan yet, but we do know they were headed to Gaza,” said IDF Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, explaining that they’re not sure how the large missiles could be smuggled into Gaza, where the southern crossings are blocked on both sides by Egypt and Israel.  The Panamanian-flagged ship was towed to an Israeli port.  Lerner said the crew likely had no idea what was in the cargo hold.

The M-302 rocket has a range of about 85 to 200 miles kilometers, and if launched from Gaza could have hit targets in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or Israel’s coastal gas fields.  They have have bigger warheads, packing a substantially more powerful punch than any previous projectile launched from Gaza.

Iran dismissed the Israeli announcement.

“We completely deny this report, which is totally without foundation,” said an unnamed military official on State television.  In Gaza, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh denied the seizure as “a new Israeli lie aimed to justify and prolong the blockade of Gaza.”