Gaza - A ship loaded with international pro-Palestinian activists intent on breaking Israel's blockade of the coastal salient docked in Gaza Wednesday morning, despite a vow by Israeli officials not to let the vessel enter the enclave's territorial waters.

"The Dignity", with 27 people on board, including Western human- rights activists, peace activists, journalists, and European and Palestinian lawmakers, moored at 8 am 
(0600 GMT), officials in naval police force of Hamas, who control the territory, said.

The boat left Cyprus on Tuesday and the activists plan to remain in the Strip for four days, Jamal al-Khodary, the head of Gaza-based Popular Committee Against the Siege, said.

The voyage to Gaza was the second made by the activists since Israel tightened its sanctions against the Strip after Hamas routed forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and seized control of the territory in June 2007.

The previous voyage was in August, when Israel did not hinder the boat's arrival.

Israel first imposed restrictions on Gaza after Hamas, which officially rejects any accommodation with the Jewish state, won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections. (dpa)