Israeli military personnel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver medicine and food to Gaza and boarded its boats as it approached the Palestinian enclave.

Around 20 vessels were seen approaching the flotilla, multiple people on board said, as passengers put on life vests and braced for a takeover, with suggestions of water canons being fired at the ships.

A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: "Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port. Greta and her friends are safe and healthy."

The flotilla said that its communications were jammed before boarding began, which interfered with cameras that were providing live streams from various boats and communications between vessels.

Israeli navy shares images of Greta Thunberg

The live stream was disrupted as the Israeli forces approached

The Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back.

It is about 70 nautical miles off the war-ravaged Strip, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching.

A live video feed from one of the boats in the flotilla showed passengers in life vests sitting on deck.

It is not clear how many of the boats had been intercepted or stopped. Some passengers said their vessels continued to advance.

Passengers were seen waiting patiently on board the ship wearing life jackets

Last week the flotilla was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries.

Israel did not comment on that attack, but has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas militants in the coastal enclave.

Italy and Spain deployed naval ships to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but stopped following the flotilla once it got within 150 nautical miles (278 km) of Gaza for safety reasons. Turkish drones have also followed the boats.

Italy and Greece on Wednesday jointly called on Israel not to hurt the activists aboard and called on the flotilla to hand over its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza, a plea the flotilla has previously rejected.

A screengrab from a live video footage shows people gesturing aboard the Gaza-bound Captain Nikos vessel,