A SOUTH Devon aid worker issued an SOS call yesterday after his mercy ship was hit and taking on water after being caught up in the Israeli offensive against Gaza.

Surgeon David Halpin and former chef Jenny Linnell, who are in the country as humanitarian volunteers, have been on the frontline of the four-day Israeli strike.

Mr Halpin, 67, an orthopaedic surgeon from Kiln Shotts near Haytor on Dartmoor, was on board the SS Dignity yesterday when it was allegedly rammed and shot at by an Israeli gunboat off the coast of Gaza as it ferried medical help from Cyprus.

Colleagues claimed the ship was forced to issue an SOS in 'international waters' after she lost one of her engines and was taking on water. On the ground in Rafah, a city close to the border with Egypt, former Totnes chef Ms Linnell said she witnessed massive explosions on residential buildings and shops including a pharmacy.

The former chef from Totnes vegetarian restaurant The Willow said there is now 'no safe place for people to go'.

At 5am yesterday several Israeli gunboats intercepted the SS Dignity, with 15 civilian passengers on board from 11 countries and three tonnes of medical supplies, as she was heading on a mercy mission to Gaza.

One Israeli gunboat is believed to have rammed the boat on the port bow side, heavily damaging her.

According to reports from passengers and journalists on board, the Dignity was severely damaged and started taking water while also suffering engine problems.

Mr Halpin, who is the captain of the boat, said the Dignity was in international waters, 90 miles off the coast of Gaza, when it was attacked.

The Israeli gunboats also fired their machine guns into the water in an attempt to stop the mercy ship from getting to Gaza. Israeli authorities deny ramming the Dignity.

Mr Halpin founded the Dove and Dolphin charity with his wife Sue to take vital medical supplies to Gaza and help in local hospitals. He decided to fly out to Cyprus on Saturday to captain the Dignity for what was his tenth trip to Gaza.

Speaking to the Herald Express through a crackling phone line, Mr Halpin, who suffered from severe seasickness, said: "The Israelis were shouting at us all the time. They kept calling us terrorists. We were confronted with barbarism.

"We are standing for international law and humanity and we cherish all children in the world."

Mr Halpin said the mercy mission to Gaza had to be interrupted after the boat was attacked by the Israeli Navy.

The boat was forced to turn around and limped to Lebanon where the Government was yesterday said to be providing help and assistance.

Over in Rafah, a city close to the border with Egypt, Ms Linnell was on the ground when it was hit by Israeli air strikes on Boxing Day.

The 33-year-old arrived in the war-torn Middle East country in August on board the Dignity as it tried to force the first of several Israeli blockades.

After forcing the blockade, she decided to stay and help international non-violent organisations in the West Bank and Gaza to provide medical help to Palestinians and prevent Israeli violence at check points.

Speaking from Rafah, Ms Linnell, who worked with the Free Gaza movement and is now working with the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement, said: "When the air strikes began, I woke up to a massive explosion. The strike targeted a pharmacy, shops and residential buildings.

"The scene was unbelievable. I've never seen anything like this in my life. The neighbourhood was totally destroyed.

"Windows were blasted out while people were sleeping. Some windows fell on small children.

"All throughout Gaza, the Israeli air strike has been affecting civilians not just Hamas military infrastructure. The attacks have continued since Boxing Day."

The peace activist added: "On Monday these neighbourhoods were evacuated by the Red Crescent which is a sign that it's escalating.

"Either there will be further air strikes which may cause more damage or it could lead to a ground attack. Everyone here feels it's just the beginning of a much larger operation.

"There is no safe place for people to go. People who already lived in refugee camps have been made refugees again. They have no homes left. It's going to be extremely difficult for them."

At least 360 Palestinians and four Israelis have died since the first Israeli air strike on Gaza began four days ago.

Dozens of centres of Hamas strength, including security compounds, government offices and tunnels into Egypt, have been hit since Israel started its massive bombing campaign on Saturday morning.

Israel said its aim is to end the rocket attacks by Hamas-linked militants of which there have more than 60 since Monday morning.

There have been angry protests against the offensive in many cities across the Arab world and in several European capitals.

The strikes began less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.

A UN human rights monitor has accused Israel of 'shocking atrocities'.

Richard Falk, the special envoy for human rights in the Palestinian territories, said the international community must put more pressure on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza.

He said: "Israel is committing a shocking series of atrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenceless population, attacking a population that has been enduring a severe blockade for many months."