The Greek coast guard has intercepted the only boat of a planned flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists that had eluded detection.

Greek officials stopped the Dignite / al Karama on Thursday as it was refueling near the island of Crete and towed it to a nearby port. The small French boat was carrying about 10 activists.

Flotilla organizers had planned to send about a dozen vessels from Greece to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli sea blockade.

However, Greek officials imposed a ban on Gaza-bound ships. They said they feared for the safety of activists after nine activists were killed during a confrontation with Israeli commandos last year.

Israel says it imposed the blockade in 2007 to stop Hamas militants in Gaza from obtaining weapons.

Meanwhile, Israel has deployed hundreds of police officers to its international airport near Tel Aviv in anticipation of the arrival of large groups of pro-Palestinian activists.

The activists, who plan to fly in over the next few days, say they are on a peaceful mission to show support for Palestinians and are not overly linked to the flotilla organizers.

The activists say they hope their mission will draw attention to Israeli policies that often bar foreigners who have ties to the Palestinians.

Israel believes that the fly-in was organized after the aid flotilla stalled in Greece. But activists deny that, saying it is a separate initiative that focuses on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.