An international aid convoy bound for Gaza set sail from the Syrian port of Latakia late Tuesday heading towards Egypt's al-Arish port after being delayed in Syria for 16 days, the convoy's organizers said in a statement, dpa reported.
The Viva Palestina convoy of 150 vehicles, 370 people and aid worth some 5 million dollars, is expected to reach al-Arish Wednesday evening, organizers added.
Viva Palestina is a group of international activists, led by British parliamentarian George Galloway, working to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip and to deliver humanitarian aid to its residents.
Egypt and Israel tightened the blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas took control of the territory in 2007.
The Egyptian government has faced domestic and regional criticism for its partial blockade on Gaza. However, after Israel violently prevented an aid flotilla, called the Mavi Marmara, from reaching Gaza in May, Egypt lifted some of the restrictions at its Rafah border crossing, including allowing entry to Palestinians needing medical attention and pilgrims.
For its part, Israel maintains an air and naval blockade on the Strip, in addition to tightly controlling the movement of goods in and out of the area via land crossings.
Around 30 activists, including survivors of the Mavi Marmara plan to sail by the location of the flotilla attack and the activists plan to hold a memorial service for the nine people killed.
The rest of the group will join them after flying the final leg of the journey into Egypt.
Egyptian security clashed with both Viva Palestina activists and Palestinians on the Gaza side of the border in January after a standoff over allowing the activists and their aid shipment into the Strip.
They were eventually granted entry, but Galloway was told by authorities upon his departure from Egypt that he would not be permitted back into the country.
Earlier this month, Egypt announced it would allow the ship to dock in Egyptian waters on five conditions, however, it did not specify what the conditions were.
The convoy started out from London on September 18 and drove through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Syria.
Galloway's website claims that it is the biggest and most international convoy set to break the siege of Gaza so far.