On Tuesday 19th October, after a wait in Syria lasting sixteen days, the convoy of 150 vehicles and 370 people set sail from Latakia on the final leg of the epic journey to deliver aid to Gaza.
Spokesman for Viva Palestina, Zaher Al-Berawi, said that most of the participants would fly to Al-Arish airport after a dispute with the owner of the Greek ship, who tripled the transport costs. The last formalities were completed and the vehicles are now on board. Convoy members are jubilant that their objective of bringing medical aid to the besieged people of Gaza is finally in sight.
Some 30 of the human rights activists, including survivors of the Mavi Marmara attack, will make the voyage to Al Arish in Egypt, passing the area at which the Mavi Marmara and fellow ships were attacked in May.
The convoy will reach Al Arish on Wednesday evening. Most of the activists from Britain, Northern Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Malaysia and more than a dozen other countries will be reunited with their vehicles there. This follows the same path that the Viva Palestina 3 Convoy took in January.
Convoy leaders now hope that the convoy will enter Gaza on Friday, although, according to a news release from PressTV, the Israeli forces are awaiting their arrival; a source with Israel's military says.
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