An Israeli court on Sunday ordered to extend the remand of three Israeli citizens who were on board a ship attempting to break the sea blockade on the Gaza Strip early Saturday for two more days, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Ashkelon court, in the southern Israeli coast strip not far from Gaza, approved the remand request over grounds the Israeli passengers "violated lawful order," according to the report.

The Israeli Navy on Saturday morning seized control of the Swedish-flagged "Estelle," carrying international pro-Palestinian activists who tried to break the maritime blockade Israeli imposes on the Gaza Strip.

The operation followed futile attempts in diplomatic ways and after the passengers on board ignored repeated calls to change its course and head to the port on Israel's turf in Ashdod, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

Whereas foreign activists are in the process of being expelled from the country, police captured three Israelis on board.

Among them is Yonatan Shapira, an outspoken left-wing activist and a former military pilot who in 2003 signed a petition against the army's targeted killings of Palestinian militants.

Police said Sunday that Shapira, along with Reut Mor and Elazar Elhanan, might face charges for incitement to rebellion, knowingly assisting an enemy and violating a lawful order.

The judge rejected the first two charges of incitement and assisting an enemy, but still ruled their detention for two more days on the basis of violating a lawful order.

The judge also expressed concerns that upon their release the suspects would obstruct the investigation.

Mikael Logfren, a spokesman for the Swedish group affiliated with the ship, told the Jerusalem Post earlier this week that the vessel is packed with musical instruments, theatrical equipment, wheelchairs, children's books, soccer balls and cement to the welfare of Gaza's citizens.

The military's operation was praised on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the weekly cabinet meeting, who reiterated that it was in keeping with the international law.

Following Saturday's event, the IDF spokesman stressed that anyone seeking to pass on humanitarian aid to Gaza is able to do so via land crossings to the strip in coordination with Israel.

In May 2010, nine Turkish nationals aboard one of a six-vessel flotilla which attempted to breach the blockade on the Gaza Strip were killed in violent confrontations with Israeli naval commanders who bordered the Turkish Navi-Marmara -- an incident that led to the severing of ties between Israel and Turkey.