A group of peace activists on board two boats have broken the Israeli imposed blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israel had earlier announced that it would not allow the convoy of more than 40 activists to enter the Gaza Strip and ordered the Israeli Navy to confront it. But it had to change its decision.
The boats carried humanitarian supplies including hearing aids for children whose hearing systems have been damaged by Israeli bombs and sonic booms.
The boats entered Gaza's territorial waters on Saturday afternoon.
Tel Aviv also announced that it would act about future similar measures individually.
The Liberty and Free Gaza boats started their trip on Friday.
The activists had earlier said Israel had jammed their communication systems, saying the regime is trying to sabotage their efforts.
In a statement the group said Israel scrambled the boats communication systems adding that
"We are not experienced sailors. As a result, there is concern about the health and safety of the people on board."
"Thousands of people have gathered together to welcome the peace activists who just arrived in Gaza", Yousef El-Helou, the Press TV correspondent in Gaza reported.
"We've entered Gazan waters. We're flying the Palestinian flag, and we now believe that we're going to reach the shores of Gaza very soon. I missed the start of the Berlin Wall coming down by just a few days, but now I know how people felt when they tore down those first few bricks.
Today is a huge victory of people over power," Press TV's presenter and journalist Yvonne Ridley who was on board one of the boats, had said earlier Saturday.
It is the first time that a NGO has managed to practically break the year-long siege of the Gaza Strip.
Israel imposed the blockade on the coastal are after Hamas took control of the area.
The team of activists includes high-profile people such as Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor.
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Good on you all! We are all watching out here. Comcast, or someone...has made your website inaccessable to me. But thanks to you tube and this blog site I've been able to monitor your progress. I learned of you all from the Peter B collins radio show. Congratulations, but still be careful, they are probably very angry.
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