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Jerusalem (CNN) -- As activists prepare a flotilla of boats to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, Israel's foreign minister Tuesday accused participants of "looking for blood".

Speaking to Israel radio the country's top diplomat, Avigdor Liberman, said that following the country's intense diplomatic campaign to thwart the activist flotilla the majority of those initially planning on participating were "convinced by our explanations regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza." He said that "they understand that those who wish to help can do this through legal means" and branded the remaining participants the "hard core of the terror activists."

The comments came after the Israeli military claimed it had information that some of the flotilla participants were threatening to kill Israeli military personnel should their boats be boarded and that some passenger were stockpiling "considerable amounts" of sulphuric acid to be used in attacks on Israeli commandos.

Colonel Avital Leibovich, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military, told CNN that the allegations were based on "solid intelligence information", though she said she could not speak to the sources or methods.

"I think this proves to the international community that we are not talking about your ordinary peace keeping human rights activists"

Flotilla activists, many of whom are gathered in Greece... >>>