WASHINGTON: The United States appealed to Israel and Turkey Friday to refrain from “provocative action” after Ankara threatened to deploy warships to escort aid vessels to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade.

“We're urging both sides to refrain from provocative action... to keep the rhetoric and keep the actions in a constructive and productive tone,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

Her comments came after Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Thursday night that Turkish warships would escort any aid ships trying to reach Gaza.

An Israeli cabinet member, Dan Meridor, called the remarks “grave and serious” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said his cabinet discussed “various theoretical options in the event of escalation.”

The dispute stems from an Israeli commando raid on a Turkish vessel that left nine dead in May 2010 as it was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of a naval blockade by Israel.

A UN report concluded that the blockade was valid under international law and that Israel had the legal right to stop Gaza-bound ships in international waters, a decision which deeply angered Turkey and the Palestinians.

But it also said Israeli troops used “excessive and unreasonable” force in stopping the vessels and described the loss of life as unacceptable.