How Omer Shem Tov, who was 20 years old and not particularly religious when taken hostage, survived 505 days in captivity.

© Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times

The environmental campaigner was sent home after she and others on the intercepted vessel said they were trying to deliver food and medical supplies.

© Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

The civilian ship, called the Madleen, was on a mission organized by a group that opposes the nearly two-decade-old blockade of Gaza.

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Israel had vowed to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza, saying its military would use “any means necessary” to stop it from breaching a naval blockade.

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Israel had vowed to prevent the vessel from reaching Gaza, saying its military would use “any means necessary” to stop it from breaching a naval blockade.

© Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images