US: Don't go to Gaza by sea

The United States updated a travel warning urging Americans to refrain from traveling to the Gaza Strip by sea and emphasizing risks, including a possible 10-year travel ban to Israel.

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The new State Department travel warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, said Americans could face arrest, prosecution, and deportation by Israel. "The Government of Israel has announced its intention to seek 10-year travel bans to Israel for anyone participating in an attempt to enter Gaza by sea," the notice said.

Meanwhile, Israel said on Wednesday it has warned the United Nations a new aid flotilla intending to challenge Israel's sea blockade of the Gaza Strip could result in "dangerous consequences."

"Israel calls on all nations to do all in their power to prevent the ... flotilla from occurring - and to effectively caution their citizens about the risks associated with participating in such harmful provocations," new UN Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor said.

"Launched under the false pretext of providing humanitarian assistance, this provocation is clearly designed only to serve an extremist political agenda -and holds the potential for dangerous consequences," he said in a letter to the UN Security Council and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Israel has made clear it will prevent the pro-Palestinian aid flotilla from reaching Gaza. A year ago, nine Turkish activists, including one with dual US-Turkish nationality, were killed in an Israeli raid on a similar convoy.

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