In 2012, an Israeli naval commander, Vice-Admiral Ram Rotenberg, wanted to wind his officers up for April Fools' Day—he told them to prepare for a surprise ten-day exercise in the Mediterranean. They were sworn to secrecy about the operation, but the orders trickled down to junior ranks and preparations began. Crews worked through the night fuelling, rigging and preparing three missile ships expecting to sail to the Italian coast of Naples the next day. They were shocked and angered to find it was all a ruse, as were their families after they began the usual ritual of sending money and food parcels to sustain loved ones while they were away. One family member told an Israeli website: “Some of the parents were already en route to bring additional equipment and food for the soldiers and others had transferred cash into their accounts in case they would need funds in Italy. The naval commander has nothing better to do than to carry out pranks?" Israel Defense Forces called the joke "inappropriate."