Peace protest boats arrive in Gaza

British-born activist Yvonne Ridley stands in front of a Free Gaza banner aboard the Liberty protest ship. Photograph: Andreas Lazarou/AP

Two boats being sailed by international peace activists on a mission to defy the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid reached their destination today.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered to greet the group of 46 activists, who undertook the two-day journey despite Israel saying it would stop the mission, which it described as a "provocation".

Earlier today, Israel said it would permit the boats to dock in Gaza after determining that they were carrying humanitarian equipment.

Those on board accused officials of sabotaging their communications equipment.

The mission is intended to challenge the economic blockade imposed by Israel and deliver a cargo of 200 hearing aids for a deaf school and 5,000 balloons.

The activists on the boat included an 81-year-old Catholic nun, the British journalist Yvonne Ridley and Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of  Tony Blair.

Earlier, Israel warned that an attempt by peace activists to sail two boats to the Gaza Strip was a "provocation" and said it would consider "all options" to prevent them reaching their destination. In a statement issued as they departed today, the activists said they would lodge a legal protest against any attempt by the Israelis to arrest them.

"If Israel chooses to forcibly stop and search our ships, we will not forcibly resist," they said. "If we are arrested and brought to Israel, we will protest and prosecute our kidnapping in the appropriate forums ... It is our purpose to show the power that ordinary citizens of the world have when they organise together to stand against injustice."

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday welcomed two boats that sailed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip in efforts to break the Israeli-imposed blockade on the Palestinian territory, saying that the arrival of the boats signaled the end of the siege. He urged the head of the Arab League Amr Moussa to come to Gaza and called on Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing, which the Egyptians closed in 2007 when Hamas violently seized control over the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also lauded the activists, who docked at Gaza City's tiny port Saturday evening, receiving a warm welcome from thousands of jubilant Palestinians after a two-day journey marred by communications troubles and rough seas.

Israel has led an international boycott of the Gaza Strip since the militant Muslim group Hamas seized power of the territory in June 2007. Israel closed its trade crossings with the coastal territory, while neighboring 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 some people are allowed to leave Gaza for medical care, jobs abroad and the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.