the IDF sure thought it necessary as they quickly stop all information flow from the ship - Even the next day no reporters were allowed neat the released 600 - they were but on buses and taken out of Israel - to Jordan I think, where there seems to be part of the deal that still reporters can not talk to them - perhaps the price for setting them free?
But they needed to board the ship to do that! In which during the entire time Al Jazeera broadcast the entire event.