Gaza  - An aid convoy led by European parliamentarians and activists on Monday night crossed into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip through Rafah border crossing with Egypt, officials and witnesses in Gaza said.

The so-called Hope convoy, which was led by 39 European activists, and included 40 food-laden trucks and 12 ambulances, arrived at Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Sunday.

Arafat Madi, chief of the European campaign to challenge the Gaza blockade, told reporters that the Egyptian authorities would not allow all of the activists to cross into Gaza. Just 20 people were allowed to accompany the aid, he said.

Madi condemned Egypt's decision to bar the entrance of 19 of the activists. The convoy arrived at the Egyptian seaport of Portsaid on Friday and then it drove to Rafah crossing.

Israel has been imposing a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip since June 2007, after the Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip and routed western-supported President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces.

During the past two years, Israel and Egypt have only opened their borders crossings with Gaza Strip for humanitarian aid, fuel and medicine. Egypt has also opened its borders to Palestinians to receive medical treatments in Egypt.

The activists spent almost two months preparing for the convoy, Madi said.

The convoy is headed by Italian member of parliament Fernando Rossi and 12 other parliamentarians from Italy, Greece, Ireland, Switzerland and Britain, in addition to other European activists.

The Hope aid convoy is the second convoy to arrive in Gaza since the end of the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip, which lasted for 22 days and ended in January 18.

The first aid convoy with vehicles, ambulances and trucks was led by the British member of parliament George Galloway. It arrived in the Gaza Strip two weeks after the end of the Israeli offensive. (dpa)