The Israeli government has started deportation procedures for a group of pro-Palestinian activists who tried to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.

Authorities said several activists and journalists who had been on the boats were flying home Saturday. More than 20 other people still are being processed.

Israeli forces intercepted the activists' two ships in international waters Friday evening local time and escorted them to an Israeli port north of Gaza.

The Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson said in a statement that the boarding was carried out in line with directives from the government after attempts were made to prevent the vessels from reaching Gaza. There were no reports of injuries.

On Friday, the IDF posted on YouTube a video showing what it said were Israeli naval officers warning the activists' ships that they were attempting to breach a legal blockade. The video also showed the naval officer offering the activists access to Israel for the transportation of their cargo to Gaza.

A spokeswoman for the activists told VOA that the ships were carrying medical supplies and letters of solidarity for the Palestinian people. Contact with the ships was lost shortly after two Israeli navy vessels intercepted them.

The 27 activists from countries including the United States, Canada, and Ireland set sail from Turkey on Wednesday. They said their goal was to deliver medical aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza, in defiance of Israel's blockade.

Israel imposed a naval blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory in 2007 in what Israeli officials say is a bid to keep weapons from reaching militants in Gaza.

Last year, nine activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish-led aid flotilla headed for Gaza. The confrontation caused a deterioration in relations between Turkey and Israel.

In July, pro-Palestinian activists launched an unsuccessful attempt to reach the Palestinian territory.