AN Isle of Wight man’s partner was last night desperately awaiting news of her partner who was aboard one of the Gaza aid ships raided by Israeli commandos.

Peter Venner, 63, from Ryde, was on the Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara, when it was boarded overnight en route from Cyprus to Gaza.

His partner of 14 years, Rachel Bridgeland, 51, from Bembridge on the island, said she has not heard from him.

“I heard from him just after he set off but I have not heard from him since,” she said.

“His mobile phone just has a message on it he left in Cyprus saying contact was not possible.

“I’m very concerned and waiting by the phone but assuming he’s not dead he will be imprisoned by the Israelis and they won’t let him make contact.”

Father-of-two teenage boys, Mr Venner was on his first seaborne trip to help the Gaza population but in January he made a land trip across the Egyptian border with aid.

As many as 19 people on boats carrying 10,000 tonnes of supplies to Gaza in defiance of a three-year blockade were reportedly killed when Israeli commandoes boarded in international waters.

Ms Bridgeland told reporters that if 19 people had died and this led to a lifting of the blockade on Gaza she would think that this was worth the price paid and so would Peter.

The Foreign Office said it had no information to suggest any Britons are among the dead or injured but was not able to give any more information about how many were on the aid mission.

Israel insisted its forces had fought back against a preplanned attack on them using weapons including knives and guns but activists said the commandoes were shooting as they boarded.

Ms Bridgeland, said Mr Venner was “an ordinary man”

who runs a wood yard but who felt strongly that the Israelis were not treating Gaza fairly by denying them aid.

“He is not a particularly political person, but he felt it was very wrong what was happening in Gaza,” she said. “He didn’t think it was right they were blockaded.”