RETIRED surgeon David Halpin's mercy mission to the Gaza strip was thwarted by the attack from Israeli gunboats.

Mr Halpin, 67, who lives on Dartmoor, had joined a party of fellow doctors, journalists and human rights activists in an attempt to take four tons of emergency aid into the besieged enclave.

But yesterday morning their boat, the Dignity, was intercepted and rammed by an Israeli gunboat in international waters 90 miles off the coast of Gaza.

No one is believed to have been injured, and the delegation and crew were offered safe haven in Lebanon.

Cyprus sea rescue had also been in touch to offer assistance.

The incident happened at around 5am when the Dignity was rammed on the port bow side, heavily damaging her, and gunboats fired their machine guns into the water.

Reports from the passengers and journalists on board say the boat was taking on water and had engine problems.

According to a message from Mr Halpin, the Dignity was illuminated by searchlights.

These were switched off and the boat carried on.

In the darkness about two hours later the Dignity was suddenly rammed. There is no possibility an accidental collision occurred, he said.

Speaking from the boat, he said: "We are confronting barbarism, we are standing for international law and humanity, and cherishing all the children of the world."

Mr Halpin, an orthopaedic surgeon, joined the delegation in Cyprus after responding to calls from Palestinian doctors who were struggling to deal with the high level of casualties from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The crew and passengers were also hoping to take the wounded out for treatment, since the hospitals are not coping.

He has already visited Gaza 10 times under the auspices of the charity he founded, the Dove and Dolphin, which delivers emergency food and medical aid to Palestinian children.

He has also helped to set up trade links and an international medical unit which pools expertise from doctors and medical specialists from around the world.

Writing on the Dove and Dolphin website before joining The Dignity, Mr Halpin said: "The torment of the Palestinian people in the remnants of Palestine has never been greater."

The attack on the boat was filmed by the journalists, and the crew and passengers were due to report on Israel's action on arrival in Lebanon.

The boat was flying the flag of Gibraltar, was piloted by an English captain and had a passenger manifest that included the former US Congresswoman and Green Party presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney.

Also on board were Dr Mohamed Issa, a paediatric surgeon from Germany who was travelling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics; Dr Elena Theoharous, a surgeon and a Cypriot MP.

She was travelling to Gaza to monitor the ongoing conflict, help with humanitarian relief efforts, and volunteer in hospitals.