TEIGNBRIDGE peace activist Dr David Halpin has escaped unharmed after the aid boat he was travelling on in the Middle East was allegedly rammed and shot at by an Israeli gunship.

Dr Halpin, a retired surgeon from Hay Tor and who formerly worked at Torbay Hospital, travelled to the war zone on Monday.

He boarded the Dignity, a vessel belonging to the Free Gaza Movement, in Cyprus. It sailed at 4pm and was said to be carrying three and a half tonnes of medical supplies to the Gaza Strip which has come under increased Israeli fire since Saturday.

More than 300 people have been reported dead. The Israeli government has defended its actions saying it had targeted Hamas activists responsible for firing shells at Israeli sites.

The Dignity was intercepted after dark.

On Tuesday Dr Halpin's wife, Sue, told this newspaper the incident had come as a complete surprise.

She said; 'David told me he had witnessed the whole thing. It was completely dark and then a spotlight was shone on the boat from a fast moving patrol boat.

'About 20 minutes later they were rammed, then there was gunfire and glass began to shatter and a large hole was punched in Dignity's side.

'It started to take on water and the Israelis refused to allow passage to Gaza or Egypt saying they were terrorists. They said it was offensive to be supporting Hamas.

'David was pretty scared at the time and he thought his number was up.'

The Dignity later made its way to Lebanon where initially another boat was being sought with which to continue the mission.

Mrs Halpin said that was unlikely to happen however with the escalating tension in the region.

The Free Gaza Movement's website claimed: 'At no time was the Dignity ever close to Israeli waters. They clearly identified themselves and the Israeli attack was wilful and criminal.'

The Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, is reported as saying there had been no shooting, although two ships had made 'physical contact' after Dignity had not responded to radio contact.

Dr Halpin has campaigned for Palestinian rights for six years. Mrs Gilpin said her husband had likened Gaza, which has been under siege for 18 months, to an 'open prison'.