Aid Convoy to Gaza
The Greek/Swedish cargo ship, the passenger boat from the European Campaign, and the Free Gaza passenger boats are ready to leave Greece this week. Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, former U.S. diplomat, and active Gaza Freedom Marcher, will be joining this crew. Colonel Wright says,
“The Israeli siege of Gaza is illegal and a violation of international law. We demand that the Israeli, Egyptian, United States and European governments end this siege. If the governments will not stop the siege, it is up to the citizens of the world to break it-and that is what we will do!”
Despite Israel’s flagrant disrespect for international law, the director of European affairs for the Israeli foreign ministry, Naor Gilon, described the flotilla mission as “provocative and in violation of Israeli law”. He told diplomats, “Israel has no intention of allowing these sailboats in Gaza.” The government of Israel has repeatedly stated publicly that they intend to intercept this convoy, using the Israeli Navy “at any price”.
Israel’s intimidation tactics will not deter us! To this end, the Gaza Freedom March joins the flotilla emergency response network. We are taking pro-active measures to stop Israel from launching any military attack or naval blockade on the flotilla. The Emergency Response Plan is in effect. This includes confirmed protests at Israeli embassies worldwide! To add your embassy protest to the list, please email flotilla@gazafreedommarch.org or register your event on our website.
Direct actions can be taken now to support the flotilla! On this single page, you can track the flotilla GPS location, news, Twitter feeds, livestream videos, uploaded photos, discussions, social network groups and more.
The Freedom Flotilla mission could never be accomplished without your support and participation!
Keep up the pressure to lift the siege of Gaza,
GFM Team
See: http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/home.aspx for news and online action you can take.
Also: http://palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=106&Content_ID=1326
On 6th December 2009 the third Viva Palestina international aid convoy set off from London. Over the next few weeks it traveled almost three thousand miles through 9 countries gaining support as it went. By 24th December, Christmas Eve, when it reached the post of Aqaba in Jordan it had grown to almost 500 people in 250 vehicles – carrying much needed medical aid for the besieged people of Gaza.
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=2&l2_id=14&Content_ID=1067
And there its journey could have come to an end. The convoy was refused passage across the Red Sea to the Sinai by the Egyptian authorities – gatekeepers of the Rafah crossing into Gaza. The convoy would only be allowed to enter Gaza if it landed at the port of Al-Arish on the Mediterranean coast.
The convoy was forced to turn around and head back through Jordan and Syria to take ship from there to Egypt. But this solution, imposed by the Egyptian authorities, has come at a cost. Viva Palestina and our partners will need to charter ferries and a plane to move our vehicles and convoy members from Syria to Egypt. And we need to raise the money to pay for this.
Read updates on the following:
http://www.vivapalestina.org/home.htm
http://www.indypendent.org/2009/12/31/gaza-freedom-march-on-the-march-at-last/
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=36457&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Viva Palestina convoy needs your help
The Viva Palestina convoy is now steaming towards Egypt after facing down all efforts to delay or stop its mission to bring relief to the besieged people of Gaza.
The refusal by the government of Egypt to allow the convoy – now 200 vehicles-strong – to pass last week across the Red Sea has meant that over $2,000,000 of aid has been kept from its recipients, charities and NGOs in the Gaza Strip.
The longer, more dangerous and more expensive route imposed by the Egyptian authorities also means that it will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds more to get the aid to the needy. That is money that should be spent on the sick and hungry.
George Galloway, who inspired the launch of Viva Palestina, says:
“Viva Palestina and the major Turkish charity IHH, which is a partner in the convoy, are appealing for funds to cover the punitive costs that have been imposed on the convoy thanks to obstruction and delays that have been imposed on it.
“Millions of people have followed this epic journey hour by hour on channels such as Al Jazeera and Press TV, or through websites, twitter and email blasts.
“They will have been enraged as they saw the attempts to prevent it reaching its goal. But we know from thousands of messages and the outpouring of public reaction in the Arab and Muslim worlds that they too share the convoy participants´ determination to see the mission succeed.
“Now they, you, have a chance to help it do so. The convoy organisers are appealing for urgent funds to ensure that the additional costs are met and do not have to come from monies already pledged to help the Palestinian people directly.
“If you are inspired by this humanitarian convoy, but angry at the way it has been frustrated you now have a chance to show it.
“Please rush your donations to Viva Palestina or the IHH and send the people of Gaza a message that they are not alone as they live through the anniversary of a bombardment that claimed over 1,400 lives. Your donation will help get the aid convoy through.
“With your generosity the extra costs can be more than met and the surplus raised will go to charitable work in the Palestinian cause. What better answer could there be to those who wish this convoy ill than to rally to it and support it financially.”
All donations for the emergency appeal for the Viva Palestina Gaza convoy can be made through Viva Palestina and through the IHH. Please see details below.
1. Viva Palestina HSBC Bank Account Number: 41508458 – Sort Code:40-04-24
2. IHH – Insani Yardim Vakfi – The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief – Please see bank details below.
Name of Bank: T.C. ZIRAAT BANKASI A.S. Account Number: 212 49 94 – 5012
IBAN CODE: TR280001000488021249945012
What You Can Also Do
We need to get in touch with our embassies and local MPs to contact the Egyptian authorities and demand that the convoy be granted safe passage through Egypt to Gaza.
See TAKE ACTION page on this website for contact details.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
CONVOY TO GAZA ATTACKED IN EGYPT
– Contact the Egyptian Embassy
– Contact the BBC
The Aid Convoy to Gaza has been attacked last night in Egypt, and is experiencing further delays. Please take action now!
Press Release 6th January
Egyptian Police attack Humanitarian Gaza Aid Convoy
Last night Egyptian police again delayed the Viva Palestina aid convoy carrying much needed aid from reaching the people of Gaza. Having agreed to Egyptian demands whilst being stranded in the port of Aqaba some seven days ago, convoy leaders agreed to re-route their journey after receiving guarantees from the Egyptian authorities of a safe passage to Gaza.
Humanitarians from all over the world transporting the aid were attacked by riot police in the port of Al Arish last night (5th January). And it is now reported that some of the activists were hospitalised overnight for their injuries. They have since returned back to re-join the convoy members in the port and thankfully have no life threatening issues.
British and national embassies are being kept informed of the situation.
Protests broke out when Egyptian authorities at Al – Arish ordered some lorries to use an Israeli-controlled checkpoint. The activists preferred the goods to be transported via Egypt’s Rafah crossing as agreed.
George Galloway who is leading the convoy said Israel is likely to prevent it entering Gaza – This morning he told Sky News. “It is completely unconscionable that 25% of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza.”
Following Israel’s horrific attack on Gaza, people all over Britain worked for months raising funds for aid and aid vehicles for the Palestinian people. Those taking the aid are humanitarians from all walks of life, who have given up a month to bring the much needed medical aid in a gesture of solidarity with their continuing oppression under Israel’s illegal siege.
Betty Hunter, General Secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said, “It is shocking that the Egyptian government is behaving in this way. There can be no justification for preventing this aid and the people who have worked so hard to provide it from reaching Gaza. The Palestinians are waiting for this well publicised international convoy to arrive and these actions of the Egyptian government, and the building of Egypt’s steel wall signal that Egypt is colluding with the Israeli government’s illegal siege of Gaza.”
Viva Palestina ‘The Return to Gaza’ is partnered with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and departed London on 6th December bound for Gaza.
See a sample letter here: http://www.vivapalestina.org/alerts/concern_050109.htm
Egyptian Embassy in Dublin: +353-1-6606718 / +353-1-6606566 / consular@embegyptireland.ie
The contact details for the Egyptian Embassy in London: 0044-20-7499-3304 / eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg (Consulate: consulate.london@mfa.gov.eg )
Your local MP: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/
David Miliband (Foreign Secretary) MSU.PublicIn@fco.x.gsi.gov.uk / msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk / milibandd@parliament.uk - 020 7008 1500
British Embassy in Egypt Tel: +(20)(2)27916000 information.cairo@fco.gov.uk
More contacts: http://readingpsc.org.uk/convoy/media/
Please email/phone/fax the Egyptian Embassy (copy this to your MP and Foreign Secretary, David Miliband).
Contact the media: Please phone and email the BBC, and other media, to ask for coverage of the Convoy’s progress to Gaza.
Please ask your MP to sign EDM 536 in the name of Richard Burden
Please organize local meetings on Gaza. PSC and Viva Palestina can provide speakers –contact the PSC office to arrange for a speaker.
More news:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8442758.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVwGnqHwk7U
http://www.aztlan.net/egyptian_police_attacks_viva_palestina.htm
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/01/2010162111115725.html
28 May 2010
Gilad Atzmon argues that whatever way the Israelis decide to respond to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the humanitarian aid mission “is a clear signal to Israel that the game is over” and that “all that is left for Israel is to come to terms with its true nature: a shameless racist, murderous and terrorist state”.
