After conflicting stories all night, international media and the Israeli government report now that the Israelis have boarded the Rachel Corrie.

Around 1 a.m. EST, Gaza observers on the beach were still reporting watching the ship headed for port.

In the meantime, the United States yesterday called the Gaza blockade "unsustainable":

(Reuters) - The White House said on Friday Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip was unsustainable and urged a Gaza aid vessel sent by pro-Palestinian activists to divert to an Israeli port to reduce the risk of violence.

"We are working urgently with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and other international partners to develop new procedures for delivering more goods and assistance to Gaza," said Mike Hammer, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.

"The current arrangements are unsustainable and must be changed. For now, we call on all parties to join us in encouraging responsible decisions by all sides to avoid any unnecessary confrontations," Hammer said in a statement.