Israel intercepted on Wednesday afternoon the ship which set off from northern Lebanon on Monday night to challenge the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-ruled enclave, local New TV reported.

The ship, carrying 60 tons of medicine, food, toys and books, was intercepted as it sailed towards Gaza this afternoon from Cyprus where the Cypriot authorities had cleared the way for the trip after searching the vessel to ensure transparency overnight Tuesday, said New TV.

The report gave no more details about the Israeli interception, but noted that eight people were allowed on board on Monday from Tripoli port in northern Lebanon, after a long-day negotiation between the trip organizers and Lebanese Transportation Minister Gazai Ariedy.

Among the eight are journalists from al-Jazeera TV and New TV, along with rights activists and former Greek Catholic archbishop of Jerusalem, Monsignor Hilarion Capucci, who left Jerusalem in the 1970s after serving in Israeli jail.

In January, a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli navy and forced to board in southern Lebanon port of Tyre.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2009)