The Israeli military warned Thursday it won't let a flotilla of aid ships pass through its waters to the Gaza Strip.
A senior military officer, speaking on condition anonymity, told reporters that if the convoy tries to breach Israel's blockade and Israeli forces encounter violence, the activists on board could find themselves in harm's way, The Washington Post reported.
Nine people died when Israeli commandos intercepted a similar flotilla in May 2010 and shooting broke out aboard a Turkish vessel.
The Israeli officer said even though the aid convoy is not expected to be carrying weapons, the Gaza blockade is necessary to prevent militants from smuggling in arms, the Post said.
"We cannot and will not let any ship get into Gaza," he said.
"A maritime security blockade is legal only if it is effective and complete. You cannot have a selective blockade."
He said Israeli forces are training to avoid deadly violence should they have to board flotilla ships.
However, he said, "if there is violence that puts our soldiers' lives in danger, we will have to respond, and there may be injuries and casualties."