Egyptian security forces on Saturday barred a convoy of humanitarian aid from reaching the Palestinian Gaza Strip citing security reasons, activists said.

The convoy of around 600 political activists, were stopped at a security checkpoint in North Sinai, around 150 kilometres from the Egyptian crossing of Rafah on the border with Gaza.

The activists, who included ex-presidential contender Khaled Ali and prominent politician Jamila Ismail, were to deliver three trucks full of food and medical assistance to residents of Gaza, the target of a 12-day-old Israeli offensive.