a british ship of the line , hms `` swiftsure '' under captain benjamin hallowell was passing Motion_directional westwards through the southern mediterranean near cape derna when it encountered Hostile_encounter a much larger french squadron under contre-amiral UNK ganteaume that was also returning Arriving westwards after a failed attempt to reinforce the besieged Besieging french garrison in egypt .

government officials , including prime minister benjamin netanyahu and foreign minister avigdor lieberman , called on other countries to help Assistance assist in firefighting efforts , and the israel defense forces mobilized Arranging troops for the same purpose .