DOZENS of hardy peace activists were approaching the shore of Gaza as the Star went to press last night, hoping to break the siege of the territory five years after Israeli commandos murdered nine activists on the first Freedom Flotilla.

A converted fishing trawler, the Marianne of Gothenburg, left Sweden in May to join the flotilla. It is now approaching the Gaza Strip carrying vital supplies of solar panels and desperately needed medical equipment.

Three other vessels — the Rachel, Vittorio and Juliano II — are accompanying the Marianne.

On board are about 50 people, including Israeli MP Dr Gasel Ghattas and former Tunisian president Dr Moncef Marzouki.

The four boats were expected to make landfall late yesterday or early today — provided the Israeli navy did not take aggressive action to halt them.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu branded the non-violent solidarity mission “a travesty of justice” last week.