Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Israeli and Palestinian officials say a Libyan ship carrying 3,000 tons of supplies for the Gaza Strip has turned back before reaching the coast.

The change of course ended the highest-profile attempt yet to break the blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza by Israel and Egypt. A smaller vessel carrying activists has made three successful runs from Cyprus to Gaza this year.

It was not clear why the Libyan ship changed course.

Israel's Foreign Ministry says there has been no contact between the Libyan ship and the Israeli navy.

However, Gaza lawmaker Jamal Khoudary says the ship was stopped by the Israeli navy Monday morning. He says he lost contact with the vessel for about 45 minutes and was then informed it had turned back.