Palestinian fishermen are seen approaching the Gaza port aboard their boats, in Gaza City. (Wissam Nassar, Maan Images)

Dozens of human rights activists from 17 countries toured the Gaza Strip on Sunday after their two fishing boats were allowed in despite an Israeli naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

The group also said it plans to bring 10 Palestinian students to Cyprus on the return voyage in another bid to highlight Israel's strict restriction of movement into and out of the impoverished territory of 1.5 million people.

"We are thrilled to be here," said Greta Berlin, 67, an American activist and a founder of the California-based Free Gaza movement, which organized the trip.

"We could not believe it when we saw the shore," she told reporters in Gaza City. "[It] was one small step for humankind and one giant step for Palestine."

The 44 activists had set sail from Cyprus on Friday aiming to defy an Israeli blockade of the territory which was tightened when the Islamist Hamas movement seized power in June 2007.

Since then Israel has sealed Gaza off from all but scarce humanitarian aid as it aims to put pressure on Palestinian militants who, before a truce took effect June 19, were launching rocket attacks on southern Israel.

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The foreign activists had expected to be stopped by the Israelis, who had warned them to stay out of Gaza's coastal waters, but on Saturday Israel decided to allow them through without incident in order to avoid a public standoff.

The group plans to spend 10 days in Gaza visiting schools, hospitals and refugee camps before sailing back to Cyprus with 10 Palestinian students who have been accepted to study abroad but were prevented from leaving Gaza.

"This is a symbolic mission, and the idea is to break the siege," Jeff Halper, the only Jewish Israeli member of the group, told AFP. "Israel should have no right to control the movement of Palestinians."

The group also met Ismail Haniyya, who has led the Hamas-run government in Gaza since he was dismissed as prime minister by President Mahmoud Abbas, whose forces were routed by Hamas in a week of bloody clashes last year. Haniyya gave the activists honorary Palestinian citizenship and passports to Palestine.

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