Four Irish citizens were aboard a small boat carrying aid for Gaza that docked in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre today after a clash with an Israeli naval ship forced it to divert to Lebanon.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman confirmed there had been "physical contact" between its vessel and the 20-metre cabin cruiser
Dignity, which sailed from Cyprus last night.
Some activists from the Free Gaza movement said the boat, carrying three tonnes of medical aid and 16 people, was rammed and shot at in international waters around 120 kilometres off Gaza by an Israeli naval vessel. There were no casualties.
Yigal Palmor, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, said the aid boat had failed to respond to radio contact. He denied there had been any shooting.
The four Irish people aboard were Irish Nobel prize laureate Mairéad Corrigan Maguire, Derek Graham, Caoimhe Butterly and Alan Lonergan.
Ms Butterly was among the international human rights activists aboard the boat.
"We have three tonnes of medicines on board – medicines that are urgently needed to treat civilians who have been seriously injured by the Israeli bombardment", she said. "It is unbelievable that we are not being allowed through with them.
"The Israelis are saying that we are trying to aid terrorists. It is outrageous to suggest that we are trying to do anything but aid the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza. That situation was dire after two years of the blockade; now, it's a catastrophe. The doctors and medicines we have on board are urgently needed."
Israel declared the Gaza coastal territory a closed military zone after it launched air attacks on Hamas targets on Saturday. More than 380 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks.
The
Dignitydocked in Tyre escorted by a Lebanese navy vessel and several fishing boats waving Lebanese and Shia party flags. Scores of Palestinians and Lebanese greeted the boat, which had a huge hole in its superstructure, at the port.
Ms Butterly said the boat would continue its journey within a few days when repairs were completed.
One Free Gaza member, David Halpin, said the wheelhouse glass was smashed, the port side was ripped and the rail was ripped almost all the way from bow to stern.
Dr Halpin said he recognised two Israeli patrol boats when they flashed their searchlights at about 5.00am. Israeli officers on board asked the captain to halt the boat's course to Gaza, but he refused, he said.
"There was the most almighty three bangs with the sound of splintering wood. The bow of the boat was rammed and it went down for a second or two," Dr Halpin said.
"I thought I was going to die. I'm 68. None of us had life jackets on. We are appalled at this barbaric act," he said.
Cyprus state radio said the Cypriot government would seek explanations from Israel over the incident. The vessel was carrying medical aid donated by Cyprus and there were at least three Cypriots on board, including a parliamentarian.
Free Gaza is a US-based organisation which has sent regular shuttles of aid to Gaza from Cyprus since August.
Additional reporting: Reuters