The Israeli military says it has taken control of a boat carrying nine Jewish activists to the Gaza Strip without resistance.

Israel had promised to halt the Irene, which was trying to breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.

Tuesday's incident comes four months after Israel carried out a deadly raid on an international flotilla that also tried to break the blockade. Nine Turkish activists were killed in clashes.

In contrast, naval forces boarded the Irene without resistance, and began to tow it into an Israeli port.

Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas militants seized power three years ago.