Activists en route to Gaza

Two boats filled with peace activists sailed toward Gaza today, bracing for a possible confrontation with Israel's navy as they try to reach the coastal strip in a symbolic attempt to break an international blockade of the territory.

The two vessels carrying 46 members of the US-based Free Gaza group were nearing the Gaza coast this morning, said Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, one of the mission's organisers.

Israel has called the mission an unacceptable provocation and it remained unclear what would happen as the boats approach Gaza. An Israeli attempt to stop them seemed likely.

"We are following the development and if they are looking for a provocation, we will know how to avoid it," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Merkel.

In Gaza City's small fishing port, activists, reporters and even a musical band from a local scout group loaded onto a dozen small boats heading toward the sea to greet the vessels. Other onlookers gathered at the port, some waving banners and Palestinian flags.

The Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, has welcomed the attempt to break the Gaza blockade.

The two boats carrying members of the Free Gaza group set sail from Cyprus yesterday in a bid to break Israel's 14-month blockade of Gaza. The 46 activists from 14 countries include an 81-year-old Catholic nun and the sister-in-law of Mideast envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair.

The 70ft Free Gaza and 60ft Liberty left the southern port of Larnaca about 10am (8am Irish time) yesterday for the estimated 30-hour trip. The activists plan to deliver 200 hearing aids to a Palestinian charity for children and hand out 5,000 balloons.

In the Gaza port, boy scouts banged on drums and blew trumpets in a boat carrying a banner welcoming the Free Gaza boats.

Israel's navy keeps tight control of the waters off Gaza. Gaza residents are only allowed to enter a narrow strip of sea off the shore and it was not immediately clear how far in the boats would go.

Hamas policemen controlled traffic in and out of the port. Youths leaped off high rocks into deep water nearby. Two large tents were set up for people to watch the scene.

"Nobody thinks that these boats will break the siege in a practical way, but this is a moral message - what is happening (in Gaza) is illegal and inhumane, and must be halted," said Raji Sourani, a prominent human rights activist.

Israel has led an international boycott of the Gaza Strip since the militant Muslim group Hamas seized power of the territory in June 2007.

The Jewish state closed its trade crossings with the coastal territory, while neighbouring Egypt sealed its passenger crossing, confining Gaza's 1.4 million residents.

Israel has allowed little more than basic humanitarian supplies into Gaza, causing widespread shortages of fuel, electricity and basic goods. Only a trickle of people are allowed to leave Gaza for medical care, jobs abroad and the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Under a June truce deal which halted a deadly cycle of bruising Palestinian rocket attacks and deadly Israel airstrikes, Israel has pledged to ease the blockade, but Palestinians say the flow of goods into Gaza remains insufficient and there has been little improvement in the quality of life.

Israel has periodically closed the cargo crossings in response to sporadic Palestinian rocket fire that violated the truce.