Israel has urged the UN to take action to prevent a Libyan aid ship from trying to break its blockade of Gaza. In a letter to the UN, Israel's ambassador Gabriela Shalev also warned Israel reserved the right under international law to prevent the ship from violating the existing naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. The ship, Amalthea, chartered by a charity run by the son of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, is set to leave the Greek port of Lavrio. The Moldova-flagged Amalthea, renamed Hope for the trip, is being loaded with about 2,000 tonnes of food, cooking oil, medicines and pre-fabricated houses. The organisation said the 92 metre vessel would also carry a number of supporters who are keen on expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Earlier, nine Turkish activists were killed in an Israeli raid on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza in May. Israel says its blockade of the Palestinian territory is needed to prevent the supply of weapons to the Hamas militant group which controls Gaza.