The SS Dignity, the blockade-busting boat of the Free Gaza Movement, was scheduled to set off for Gaza on Friday evening carrying a tonne of medicine, baby formula and gifts donated by the people of Qatar.
Two Qatari envoys will also make the journey in order to assess hospitals, schools and civilian centres in order to make recommendations on how to help the beleaguered Palestinians rebuild infrastructure that Israel has destroyed.
"This is just the beginning. After we assess the situation there, we will go back and let the people of Qatar know how we can help. We are delighted that we are finally able to go and see how we can work together to help relieve this terrible situation in Gaza," said Alze Qahtani, one of the Qatari envoys.
Last month, Israel warned it would interdict another ship laden with $2 million worth of cancer medications and $1 million in foodstuff donated by Qatar.
The ship berthed at the Cypriot port of Limassol with its precious cargo.
The Dignity will also carry two Palestinians who want to go home to their families as well as Arabs from other countries who have never been able to visit Palestine since Israel occupied the country.
In addition, there will be human rights activists and two Israelis on board. One Israeli is a journalist from Israel's Channel 10 news.
The Free Gaza Movement has made several voyages to Gaza since August, carrying political personalities, human rights activists, doctors and supplies into the strip, besieged and blockaded by Israel since January 2006 after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections.
The movement's successful crossings from Cyprus to Gaza have encouraged the Libyan government, a Jordanian charitable organisation and an Israeli Muslim charity to try to send supplies as well. But Israel has blocked all but the small ships of the Free Gaza Movement in spite of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip due to Israel's siege.
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