David Halpin, 62, set off from Torbay two weeks ago on the 3,000 mile-journey.

Mr Halpin, from Haytor in Devon, decided to go to Palestine after reading that many people in Gaza were malnourished.

He succeeded in chartering a Danish-registered cargo ship, the Barbara, which is loaded with 55 tonnes of food and medical supplies.

The aid will now travel to Gaza by road

The vessel's cargo includes 40 tonnes of flour, one tonne of Cheddar cheese, three tonnes of edible oils, five tonnes of milk powder, 1.4 tonnes of waste wool for weaving and £1,500 worth of medical dressings.

The aid is to be transferred from the Israeli port of Ashdod to Gaza by road.

Mr Halpin said: "The cargo is being discharged into lorries, rather than warehouses where there might be a delay.

"We will then go south into Gaza.

Pave way

"The four of us on the boat will join up with three other people who flew to Tel Aviv three days ago to pave the way for us."

Mr Halpin paid for much of the cost of the mission out of his own pocket.

However, donations aimed at offsetting the cost have already reached over £24,000.

Travelling with him are 24-year-old Stuart Lawley, from Dorset, who works for the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation; 55-year-old musician John Maughan, from Boscastle, Cornwall and John Hingley, 51, a trawler skipper from Brixham, Devon.