Lacarna, Cyprus  - Peace activists abandoned an attempt reach Gaza with a ship loaded with aid for Gaza's Palestinians on early Tuesday and returned to Cyprus, a spokesman of Free Gaza, a US NGO, told Greek radio.

Their ship, Arion, was urged by Israeli war ships about 80 nautical miles off Gaza via loudspeaker and radio several times to leave the region, as the sea's off gaza were off limits, the activists said.

The 21 Free Gaza activists, among them several doctors, abandoned their journey and are expected back at the Cypriot port Lacarna on Thursday afternoon.

Israel's navy rammed another of the group's ships on December 30, preventing it from transporting medical aid to the Gaza Strip. Israel denied that it had rammed the ship on purpose. (dpa)