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Americans will join international aid flotilla to break Israel's siege on Gaza Strip in the coming days.

However, organizers of the US boat said Monday they were only allowed to bring letters of friendship to Palestinians with them under US law.

The organizers said the US government prohibited them from bringing humanitarian and medical assistance to Gaza, which is headed by Hamas.

Thus they said they will carry 3,000 letters to the Palestinians, but other ships may carry relief supplies.

US boat will have 36 passengers, four crew and nine journalists when it sets sail for the tiny Palestinian enclave. 28 percent of the passengers were American Jews.

The name of the US boat, The Audacity of Hope, is taken from President Barack Obama's second book.

The US boat will sail from Athens to join around 10 ships carrying some 500 to 600 activists from 22 countries.

The boats are expected to leave various Mediterranean ports around June 20 as part of the "Freedom Flotilla II" aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade.

Activists said other countries taking part the flotilla include ships from Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Britain, France, Greece and Norway.

The Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, that Israel killed 9 activists in international waters, has dropped its plan to join the flotilla "due to technical reasons" but some say "under pressure by US government". <... >>>