Free Gaza group spokeswoman Mary Hughes-Thompson said Israeli naval vessels surrounded the 66-foot (20-meter) Greek-flagged boat off southern Lebanon and threatened to open fire if the boat did not turn back.
Hughes-Thompson said the boat carrying 5 tons of supplies and 21 passengers, including three surgeons, was expected to arrive at Larnaca port Thursday evening.
It was the second failed bid by the U.S.-based group to try to reach Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the Palestinian territory late last month in response to rocket fire on Israel.
In Athens, the Greek Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it had sent a strong protest to the Israeli Foreign Ministry through the Greek ambassador in Tel Aviv that ``emphasized and asked for the Israeli authorities to pay particular attention to the protection of the lives and security of those on board the boat.''
It said protests had also been sent the previous day to the Israeli foreign and defense ministries.
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