Aid workers whose ship was blocked from delivering relief supplies to Gaza were facing deportation from Israel on Sunday.

The 11 passengers from Ireland and Malaysia on the MV Rachel Corrie cargo ship arrived on Saturday evening in the port town of Ashdod after the ship was taken over by Israeli forces.

The military seized the 1,200-tonne boat at sea. No resistance was encountered and the aid workers were taken to a detention centre near Tel Aviv.

A source at the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Irish authorities were willing to offer them whatever assistance they could.

It was thought the activists would attempt to fight deportation, but Israeli officials said all passengers and crew had signed deportation papers and most were expected to leave the country on Sunday.

The seemingly bloodless action contrasted with a violent confrontation at sea earlier this week when Israeli forces blocked a Turkish aid vessel trying to reach the territory. Israeli commandos descended from helicopters and a clash with passengers left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead.