GAZA, December 30, 2008 (WAFA)- Israeli Naval Forces stopped a ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and forced it back, human rights activist in Gaza said.

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, the spokeswoman of the Free Gaza Movement, told reporters that the small cabin cruiser 'Dignity', which sailed from Cyprus late on Monday, was rammed by an Israeli naval vessel causing to damage to its front.

'The ship was surrounded by Israeli navy vessel when it sailed in the international waters before entering the waters of the Gaza Strip,' she said. 'The ship was badly damaged.'

According to the Free Gaza Movement, 16 people including human rights activists, doctors and journalists boarded the ship at the Cypriot port of Larnaca late Monday afternoon.

Amad Al-Shawwa, the Palestinian NGOs Network Spokesman, said that Israeli gunboats hit the front of the ship, adding that the boat approached the Lebanese territorial waters.

'The gunboats caused damage to the boat and forced it back amid fears that it will sink due to the damage,' said Al-Shawwa.

Israeli naval vessels surrounded the boat, and one vessel 'clashed with' the small aid ship, according to Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman.