Jerusalem (CNN) -- The Israeli government said Thursday it will stop a convoy of cargo and passenger ships filled with supplies and headed to Gaza to break a blockade imposed by Israel in 2007. Government officials said Wednesday they have given the Israeli Defense Forces instructions to reroute the flotilla to Ashdod port in Israel, where the supplies will be unloaded and transferred to Gaza. Mark Regev, an Israeli government spokesman, called the flotilla "a cheap political stunt." "If they were really interested in the well being of the people of Gaza, they would have accepted the offers of Egypt or Israel to transfer humanitarian aid to the people  of Gaza, along with the other 15 thousand tons sent every week," he said.
@highlight
NEW: Israeli official calls convoy of ships 'cheap political stunt'
@highlight
Government says it will stop flotilla taking aid to Gaza
@highlight
Knesset member among flotilla participants
@highlight
Convoy aims to break 2007 Israeli blockade
There have been eight naval convoys to Gaza until now, and Israel has allowed three to dock at the @placeholder port.