JERUSALEM, Dec. 1 -- A Libyan ship said to be carrying humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip faced a likely blockade by the Israeli navy Monday, Israeli defense officials said.

Jamal Khoudari, an independent Palestinian lawmaker, said the vessel was loaded with food, medicine, blankets and powdered milk.

"This ship is coming to Gaza to help the Palestinian people who are under siege," Khoudari told The Jerusalem Post in a telephone interview from Gaza. "This ship is safe and will help us since it is carrying food and medicine. There is no reason to stop it."

The newspaper reported Israeli officials said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided Thursday night not to allow the ship to drop anchor in Gaza's port. The Israeli navy has been given orders to stop the boat as it enters Israeli waters, the Post said.

"We will treat this boat different than the earlier ones that were allowed into Gaza," one official said. "Libya is a hostile state to Israel and what guarantees do we have that the boat is not carrying weapons and explosives for Hamas?"

A spokesman for Olmert had no comment on the situation, the Post said. (UPI)