GAZA CITY (AFP) — Israel said on Saturday it would allow two boatloads of pro-Palestinian activists protesting against its embargo on the Gaza Strip to enter the Hamas-ruled enclave.
"They wanted provocation at sea but they won't get it. We know who the passengers are and what they are bringing with them and so we have no problem letting them through," Foreign Ministry spokesman Aviv Shiron told AFP.
"There will be no contact between the navy and the boats," Shiron said.
The two vessels carrying a total of 44 activists from 17 countries were expected to enter Gaza port between 5:00 and 7:00 pm (1400 and 1600 GMT), according to Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, a spokeswoman for the so-called Free Gaza Movement organising the demonstration.
In a message sent from the boats at 10:00 am (0700 GMT) the crew earlier said their communications systems had come under attack by "electronic piracy" and that they were having difficulty reaching organisers on land.
"We are not experienced sailors. As a result, there is concern about the health and safety of the people on board (should) an emergency develop," the message said, according to a copy provided by Godfrey-Goldstein.
"We are currently experiencing rough sea conditions, and we call on the Greek government and the international community to meet their responsibilities and protect the civilians on board our two ships in international waters."
An attempt by a third boat carrying reporters from the Israeli port of Ashdod to meet the two vessels failed because of communications problems, Godfrey-Goldstein said.
The two converted fishing boats set sail under Greek flags from Cyprus on Friday morning carrying the activists determined to break an Israeli embargo that was tightened when the Islamist Hamas movement seized Gaza in June, 2007.
Since then Israel has sealed the territory off from all but vital humanitarian aid in a bid to put pressure on Palestinian militants, who have fired hundreds of rockets at southern Israel in the past year.
The boats left Larnaca port on Cyprus's south coast to cheers from a small crowd of supporters on a 370-kilometre (230-mile) voyage that was expected to take up to 30 hours.
The activists initially expected to be stopped by Israel, which maintains a tight naval blockade on Gaza, and had warned the boats not to enter its waters, saying that to do so would support "the regime of a terror organisation."
Around 20 Gaza fishing boats flying Palestinian flags meanwhile left Gaza City's main port in a bid to meet the two boats, according to an AFP correspondent on board one of them.
The boats travelled several miles (kilometres) out to sea but turned back when distant Israeli gunships fired warning shots into the air.
Back at the port dozens of people, mostly reporters, had gathered to await the arrival of the boats from Cyprus, Liberty and Free Gaza, which are carrying 200 hearing aids for Gaza children and 5,000 balloons.
"When they arrive they will send a messsage to Israel and to the rest of the world to pay attention to Gaza and to lift the siege," said Manal, 20, a university student who had been waiting at the port for two hours.
"We hope they will be able to arrive. We are optimistic," she added.
Others had expected that Israel would scuttle the protest. "The boats will never arrive. The Israelis will capture them before they get anywhere close to Gaza," said Ahmed, a 17-year-old dockworker.
Those on board the two Gaza-bound boats hail from 17 countries including Israel and are aged between 22 and 81, organisers said. Among them are students, lawyers, doctors, journalists and an online poker player.
The activists, mostly American and British, include Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of former British premier Tony Blair who is now an international Middle East peace envoy.
Many of the activists said they had received death threats before they set sail, and some demonstrators dropped out.
The boats were loaded with enough food and water to last 10 days in case of a lengthy stand-off with the Israeli navy, organisers said.
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