By Michael Jansen

LARNACA - The Free Gaza and the Liberty sailed into Larnaca port late Friday after twice breaking the Israeli siege and blockade of the strip.

On board were seven Gazans who had been trapped there and 31 human rights workers from a dozen countries.

The return trip was a second challenge to Israel because the Palestinians left without Israeli exit visas. Since occupying Gaza in 1967, Israel has directly or indirectly exercised full control over everyone and everything entering and exiting the enclave.

Musheir Farra, who was born and raised in the central Gaza town of Khan Younis and now resides in Sheffield in the UK, said: "For the first time in my life, I went to Gaza without being humiliated, without having to ask Israel for permission. We did it. We finally did it. And now others must join us and do it as well."

While in Gaza, he visited his father and siblings and the grave of his mother, who died five years ago.

The boat people and passengers were handed long stemmed roses and bouquets when they alighted from the two Greek flagged vessels.

The activists brandished red Palestinian diplomatic passports issued by the Hamas government in Gaza. At the back were the first ever exit stamps from Gaza port fixed by a Palestinian administration as the boat people were the first travellers to depart directly from Gaza.

Saed Mosleh, a teenager who lost a leg to an Israeli tank shell in 2006, and his wheelchair were lifted gently off the Liberty onto the dock. His father, Khaled, a farmer from Beit Hannoun, stood by proudly as the boy responded to journalists' questions. "I am happy and overwhelmed to be in Cyprus. There are many wounded people like me in Gaza. I hope the international community will take a stand so they can leave for treatment. I want to get an artificial leg so I can have a chance of walking again." Although it is possible to secure simple artificial limbs in Gaza, his case requires special handling because his leg was severed at the hip.

He failed in an attempt to sue the Israeli government for compensation because his family could not pay 25,000 euros in cost.

Maha Darwish and her four children were met at the quay by her brother, Ayman Soboh, a businessman who resides in the Cypriot port city of Limassol. "I have not seen my sister in 10 years," he said.

"They will stay here for some time, until they decide what to do, where to go." Her husband is in Egypt. Free Gaza movement co-founder Paul Larudee, a piano tuner from California, declared, "This endeavour has been a huge success, far more significant and wide-reaching than anyone ever dreamt it could be. It has had obvious beneficial effects on the Palestinian people, but also on Israel. In fairness, credit must go where credit is due – despite threats or obstacles [put in the way of the voyage], a responsible decision was made by the Israeli authorities not to interfere with our mission and this is a model for the future."

Derek Graham, an electrician from Ireland, observed: "We did not really think we would get into Gaza. We received the most fantastic reception when we arrived last week. There must have been 40,000 people at the port. There was nowhere to stand on shore or swim in the sea. It was bedlam."

Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, wrote: "The landing of two wooden boats carrying 46 human rights activists to Gaza is an important symbolic victory. This non-violent initiative focused attention around the world on the stark reality that the 1.5 million residents of Gaza have endured a punitive siege for more than a year. The siege is a form of collective punishment that constitutes a massive violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention."

The movement intends to make a second round trip in three to four weeks time. Ten activists, including Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, remained in Gaza.