JERUSALEM — Israeli naval commandos on Tuesday seized control of a French ship attempting to break Israel’s sea blockade of the Gaza Strip and towed the vessel into port, reporting no resistance during the takeover in international waters.

The takeover was the latest in a series of run-ins on the high seas between the Israeli navy and pro-Palestinian activists trying to breach the blockade. In the most contentious incident, nine Turkish activists were killed in a clash with Israeli commandos last year.

Tuesday’s operation was far more subdued than the deadly clash last year. The navy intercepted the Dignite Al Karama about 40 miles off the coast and boarded the ship without incident after the crew ignored calls to change course.

“The takeover was orderly and done with restraint,” the navy’s deputy commander, Brig. Gen. Rani Ben-Yehudah, told reporters at the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. “Nobody was hurt and the ship wasn’t damaged.”

The military had warned it would stop any attempt to break the Gaza sea blockade, which Israel imposed four years ago to prevent what it says is arms smuggling to Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group.

The boat was not carrying aid supplies.

It was taken to Ashdod, where foreign activists were to be questioned and then deported “to their countries of origin as soon as possible,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.

Passengers included activists from France, Sweden, Canada and Greece. There were also three journalists, including an Israeli, and several crew members.

In Paris, a spokeswoman for the organizers said the group had no contact with the ship’s passengers.

“We have reasserted our request for the French authorities to be very firm in order to protect and repatriate as soon as possible our fellow citizens but also all the members of the flotilla,” said Julien Rivoire, a spokesman for the group.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said his government advised activists not to take part in the flotilla because such activities “can only reinforce tensions.” He also said the Gaza blockade must be lifted.

The Dignite Al Karama was the only ship remaining from a larger protest flotilla that had hoped to sail weeks ago but was blocked by Greek authorities.

There have been charges that Israel’s seizure of boats on the high seas is piracy and contrary to international law. Israel claims it has the right to enforce a quarantine on Gaza to prevent weapons from reaching the territory’s Hamas rulers, and many international law experts have backed up Israel’s contention.