More airstikes on Gaza; latest convoy in after yet more delays

Israel warplanes have carried out three airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, but there is no word yet on any possible casualties.

Two of the air raids targeted the east of Gaza City and the third airstrike hit an area east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has not commented on the attack so far.

Israel has been repeatedly targeting the Gaza Strip since its 22-day war on the enclave launched in late December 2008, which killed over 1,400 Palestinians and inflicted over $1.6 billion in damage.

Convoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=560u4EnteOc

Meanwhile, the Egyptian regime has imposed heavy restrictions on the Asian aid convoy, dubbed Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan, or Asia 1, which is carrying an estimated one million dollars worth of medicine, foodstuffs and toys as well as four buses and 10 power generators for hospitals.

Egyptian authorities have prevented some convoy members, including Iranians and some Jordanians, from crossing into the besieged Palestinian territory and have, until today, the 6th January, refused to allow the convoy into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.

According to a Press TV correspondent in the region, the Egyptian authorities have demanded a certain amount of money to allow the convoy's humanitarian cargo, recently stuck at the Egyptian port of al-Arish, to be delivered to Gaza.

The activists also told Press TV that during their stay in Egypt, the authorities had stopped them on several occasions, asking them for money.

Cairo insisted the humanitarian cargo, including medicine, food and toys, should be delivered to Israel and that the relief supplies would enter Gaza through Israel.

Palestinians have, with good reason, frequently accused Cairo of collaborating with Tel Aviv to increase pressure on Gaza by refusing to allow aid convoys to reach the region.

The Asian aid convoy, with 160 activists of 18 various nationalities, has travelled through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Lebanon. It was forced to remain in Syria for a week, awaiting Cairo's authorization to dock at its northeastern port of al-Arish.

The activists, who managed to cross into the Gaza Strip on January 3, have vowed to stay in the Palestinian territory until they make sure that the aid convoy has entered Gaza and been delivered to those in need.

The activists say they seek to show solidarity with the Palestinian people in their resistance against Israel.

R2H: Bristol Boys come home

After a very long journey indeed, and adventures that no one could have anticipated, the two remaining representatives from Bristol made it all the way to Gaza. Keith Darkin had plenty of time to see for himself the effects of the ongoing UK/US backed siege, and to meet survivors. Shahid Iqbal, leading Bristol graffitist, was able to make his mark in a big way - at one point a policeman helped him do a giant version of his famous 'toff'. After a Welcome Home at the Farm pub, St Werburgh's on Tuesday 7th, there was a party at the same venue on Thursday, also hosting an art show/ fund-raiser for Gaza.

NOW: See short film report here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwZWVGUBNg

Road To Hope in Gaza!

See report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/152675.html

Update, 28 November (From Ken O'Keefe)

After a demanding and very long 7 week journey the convoy members have been given just over two days to stay in Gaza or risk joining the imprisoned population of Gaza; this is typical of the Egyptian control of the Rafah Crossing. 13 members of the convoy were blacklisted by Egypt, including a seventy-year-old children’s entertainer and magician from Wales who was transporting toys for the children of Gaza. Also blacklisted was a Scottish national who has never left Scotland and has no affiliation with any organization, along with a 19 year-old British national, again with no associations that could be considered prohibitive. Several survivors of the Mavi Marmara were banned, along with British/Pakistani nationals and previous convoy members. This trend makes it harder and harder for people to support Palestine and should be considered a part of the overall blockade of Gaza.

The convoy members will do their best to experience as much of Gaza as possible and share with the world the reality of life for people entering four years of a brutal collective punishment policy. The vehicles and aid will be distributed to various charities and organizations that are doing invaluable work. Among the aid is medical equipment and medicines, wheel chairs, crutches, toys, clothes footballs and shoes.

Ken O’Keefe will remain in Gaza for 40 days (or longer if imprisoned) and begin daily video reports focusing on the children of Gaza. These will be posted at his Facebook and Twitter accounts and his blog.

R2H Facts – The Road to Hope humanitarian aid convoy left London on the 10th of October with £500,000 of humanitarian aid for the besieged people of the Gaza Strip. The convoy travelled with over 100 members and 32 vehicles over 5,000 miles through the UK, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya and Egypt. Ultimately 35 convoy members reached Gaza due to the lengthy journey and blacklisting.

Road 2 Hope: Gaza on the horizon?

Continued from http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/11/road-to-hope-abducted-to-greece.html

The ship (the second to have been chartered by the Convoy), with the vehicles and three of the convoyers is nearing Al-Arish port in Egypt. The Egyptian authorities refused overland public transport for the rest of the convoyers, who have had to raise money for a specially chartered flight to Al-Arish.

In addition Egypt has banned about a dozen of the convoyers, including Ebrahim, who will be returning to the UK shortly. Also Ken O'Keefe, who had returned to London after the Greek abduction before rejoining the Convoy. Israel has branded as a "terrorist" everyone who travelled on the aid ship Mavi Marmara - this may explain Egypt's action. Names and faces, even addresses - with degrees of accuracy - have been listed in a publication by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.

Keith and Shahid, the remaining Bristol pair on the convoy, are well. The Bristol mini bus is destined for a disabled youth club and the other vehicles for other local charities as arranged previously; boxes of aid will be delivered to the Baptist Church.

The remaining convoyers should fly from Benghazi at about midday. Assuming they are reunited with their vehicles and the entry formalities are swift they may all reach Gaza City later on Thursday where the vehicles and aid will be distributed.

Road to Hope abducted to Greece

Greek commandos board Gaza-bound aid ship

Continued from: http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/11/road-to-hope-convoy-to-move-on-at-last.html

Main-stream news reports in Greece(Friday 12-Saturday 13th) say Greek commandos boarded the Gaza-bound ship on Friday in the country's main harbour of Pireaus during a dispute between the ship's captain and the aid group over money.

The 10 travellers with the Road to Hope organization said they were being treated like terrorist suspects by the Greek commandos.

The organization said the Maltese-flagged ship, Strofades IV, with 16 crew members was originally intended to sail from Libya to El Raid in Egypt with the aid then to be transported via land route to Gaza. After a two-week wait at the Libyan/Egyptian border, the group had raised the money to pay for this alternative journey.

But following an argument between the ship's Greek captain and an Egyptian broker, the aid group's cargo and nearly 70 other volunteers were left behind in Libya and the ship sailed to Pireaus instead. According to an earlier statement from Road to Hope, the captain was reported to be saying he wanted to proceed to Greek islands and drop off the convoyers and Libyans, so that the Greek people could deal with them as illegal immigrants. The ship contains 10 aid workers - seven Britons, two Irish and an Algerian - on board as well as several Libyan police officers, plus a senior port official. The police officers had gone on board at the port to help settle the dispute, when the ship set off from the Libyan port of Darnah.
The captain had set off while the Strofades IV was still moored, snapping the ropes holding his boat by force and heading for open waters.
"The scene was crazy," said Saeb Shaath, one of the convoyers who was at the port helping the charity to dispatch the aid consignment and who witnessed the incident, speaking to Reuters.
"He [the captain] broke anchor without permission to leave. He broke the ropes tying the ship ... and nearly capsized the ship when when it hit the wall. There were a lot of people on that ship."
Libyan authorities pursued the ship with Zodiac speedboats and aircraft, but the captain refused to stop. "He won't listen," said Shaath. Libyan authorities had secured the boat while waiting to resolve the dispute between the captain and his passengers. The volunteers understood the captain feared the agent would not pay him the $90,000 fee for the voyage to Gaza. After leaving harbour, he apparently disembarked 22.50 GMT on Wednesday 10th, through a side door of the ship, onto a speed boat, which made for another cargo vessel in Darnah harbour – “Odin Finder”.
There followed this short statement from one of those on board:
"reports of 4 Libyan navy vessels & two fighter jets surrounding ship, attempting to bring the vessel back to harbour safely.
Attempts to ensure 10 kidnapped convoyers & 3 libyans safely transferred to Libyan ships, to return to Darnah. No force being used – only verbal reasoning applied to Strofades IV captain"
After this, the journey to Greece resumed.


Britain's foreign ministry said it was aware of the incident. It released a statement:
"Our Embassy in Athens has spoken to the shipping company and is also in close contact with the Greek authorities. Our priority remains that there be a safe resolution to this incident.”
The ship's owners are the Pireaus-based Ionion Bridge Shipping Management.
Ministry officials said all those on board the vessel were in good health; although it is known that for the earlier part of the journey they were allowed only washing-water to drink and no food.

Update, 14 November 19.45 GMT:

Ebrahim reports back: The convoy has just driven away from the port of Darnah where the debacle with the ship took place and apparently caused some bad feeling with the local police.

He says they are all safe and well, and had their passports returned.

The two local Bristol people, Keith and Shahid, are fine.

Internet connections have been limited and this is the reason communications have been so fragmentary.

They are driving to Tobruk where they will have some freedom and can relax.

There are no ships over the next few days as it is the festival of Eid.

They have their money back and have news of a ship arriving next Thursday which would leave on Saturday.

Ebrahim Mussaji, from Gloucestershire, is part of the Bristol Contingent of Road2Hope.

21st November: The abducted convoyers have returned to the UK but some of them were hoping to fly back to rejoin the convoy for the departure of ship number two, planned for the night of Sunday 21st; while the Captain of

Strofades IV

is, apparently, under arrest.

Road to Hope convoy to move on at last

Continued from: http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/11/road-to-hope-tenth-day-at-egyptian.html

The Road to Hope humanitarian aid convoy, which includes five vehicles containing aid from Bristol, is boarding a ship from Libya to Egypt today (Wednesday) and hopes to sail tomorrow (Thursday). The convoy group launched a last-minute fund-raising appeal last night for over thirty thousand pounds to pay for the ship and news on Wednesday evening is that this has been answered by a group of supporters in London.

After a month on the road having departed from London on 10th October, Road to Hope humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza has been stranded on the Libyan-Egyptian border for over two weeks witnessing a wrangle with the Egyptian authorities. Egypt is insisting that all aid for Gaza must arrive at the port of Al-Arish near the Gaza crossing, either by sea or by air, and refuses all overland crossings of its territories.

Just a skeleton crew have remained with the vehicles in Libya towards the end of the long wait. Some of the Bristol convoyers have had to return to the UK for work or personal reasons. But some have pledged to return to the convoy once it is on the move and to join it for the final leg of the trip from El Arish to the Rafah Crossing into Gaza.

Sakir Yildirim of Fishponds who has been on all the previous Bristol convoys and was on the Mavi Marmara says “I will drop everything to return to the convoy as soon as I know it is on the move. I want to be part of the team when we drive our aid into Gaza”.

Others who returned to Bristol are considering their plans but have spoken positively of the trip so far. Such convoys may be less likely in future for two reasons: there have to be less expensive ways of getting aid to Gaza; and, at least 50% of the raison d'etre of the convoys being publicity and the world's news media being perfidious as it is, hence zero publicity being generated.

However, there is another flotilla in the planning stages for early 2011.

Road to Hope: tenth day at Egyptian border

As the Road To Hope Convoy languishes with its loads of aid for Gaza, convoyer Laura Stuart has released this bulletin, below. Laura was a member of the Viva Palestina convoy which passed through North Africa in February/March 2009. Many of the current travellers have already travelled with an Al Quds convoy on that first journey and they have a bond already with the Libyan drivers as they shared the hardships and difficulties of the journey with them. On that occasion there was no objection from Egypt and they were welcomed by the Egyptian Government who gave members of Viva Palestina and Al Quds a police escort and hospitality all the way from Al Saloum to Rafah.

Laura is one of 7 present survivors of the Mavi Marmara attack by Israeli commandos which took place in international waters on the 31st May 2010 and which has been called a "war crime" and a "crime against humanity" by the United Nations Fact Finding Mission report published in September. She said "we owe it to those who lost their lives on the ship, the widows and 29 children who were orphaned by the attack, to continue the struggle to have the blockade of Gaza lifted completely and for all borders to be open for aid convoys".

"Now we have moved to Tobruk, we have received an amazing welcome from the local people here, who are stopping us on the streets and inviting us into their homes and restaurants for tea and food. All across the Muslim lands of North Africa we have been given the utmost protection and assistance from the King of Morocco instructing his police force to ensure our safe passage through Morocco followed by the amazing fact that Algeria and Morocco opened the border which is sealed for many years. If this border was thrown open to us after 15 years of closure then we wonder why can't the Egyptian border not be opened to us as well? Algerian, Tunisian and Libyan police have escorted and protected our convoy and many local organisations have given us free food and accommodation. The support for the Palestinians and people of Gaza across North Africa from people at every level is overwhelming.

'We are not wealthy people, we are humanitarians, people of conscience who came together to form a convoy taking aid to Gaza, now we are faced with the prospect of our only hope of reaching Gaza being to hire a ship for our vehicles and to pay for ourselves to fly to Al Arish. The cost of this was never reckoned into the cost of reaching Gaza. We also feel that although charities from Libya or elsewhere may offer to assist us financially that this money could be better spent directly on the people of Palestine rather than being spent on taking a ship to deliver what we can take by road. On the other hand we are steadfast in our determination to continue however much we may suffer from being separated from our families and loved ones, we recognise that our suffering is very minor compared to the struggle of daily life that the people of Palestine face. Some of our people have had to leave to fulfil work commitments but about 60 of us remain and reaching Gaza is our aim and we remain steadfast on that aim."

On the 1st November, Siamak Alimi sent out a quick blog:

Libyan Government actively and vigorously trying to help R2H get a boat. Egyptian Government has been very happy, for weeks, to facilitate r2h getting into Gaza by El Arish port. Egypt has repeated its full permission to facilitate access to Gaza through El Arish. Libya is repeating its offer to try to fix up a boat. It is all still up for grabs. We are confident that the convoy will be on the move again soon and will complete its mission.

Road to Hope: long wait outside Egypt

Continued from: http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/10/hope-convoy-still-waits-at-egyptian.html

The Road to Hope humanitarian aid convoy now comprises 30 vehicles and over a hundred humanitarian aid workers. It has travelled four and a half thousand miles through Europe and across North Africa. However the entire convoy has now been stuck for several days on the Libyan - Egyptian border following a wrangle with the Egyptian authorities.

Egypt is insisting that all aid for Gaza must arrive at the port of Al-Arish near the Gaza crossing, either by sea or by air, and refuses all overland crossings of its territories. The Road to Hope convoy is now faced with two options. They will wait for the Libyan convoy “Al Quds 5” which is due to leave shortly and if there is sufficient international pressure on Egypt both convoys may be able to cross the border together. However, if Egypt remains intransigent the only other option is to take all the vehicles by ship from Libya to Al Arish, which may take several weeks to organize.

A spokesman for Road to Hope said: “Now we find ourselves in our third day at the Libyan / Egyptian border and we remain hopeful that the land route will be opened to us in the coming days”. The convoy departed from London with the understanding that the land crossing through Egypt had not been closed to it. One reason for our optimism that we will travel the land route is the fact that the Al Quds convoy, a Libyan convoy also delivering aid to Gaza, is set to travel the land route in the coming days. For several weeks we have hoped to join our convoys and travel together. However, the convoy is awaiting permission from the Egyptian authorities to pass through Egypt in this way.”

As of today, Sunday 31st, Egypt has withheld its permission for Road to Hope to join forces with Al Quds Convoy - although that hardly seems within the Egyptian authorities' remit.

“Although the outlook for an expeditious approval to proceed with our mission is likely, we have always been prepared for the ups and downs and challenges that have been commonplace when attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. If we were to move forward in the next day or two this would be one of the most trouble-free convoys yet.” – Convoy Leader Kieran Turner, 1st November

'Hope' convoy still waits at Egyptian border

Continued from: http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/10/road-to-hope-convoy-libya-and-onwards.html

Bristol PSC member Sonette Aboud reports that all went pretty well with the Libyan leg of the journey.
They were accommodated in Gaddafi's son's luxury hotel near the border for one night. She cannot adequately express how generous and hospitable the Libyans have been.

They are presently at the Libyan-Egyptian border post.
She is not expecting any progress soon and they are camped in Bedouin tents in the car-park.
It seems it may take a couple of days to get clearance before they can continue.
It will then be about 1000 miles across Egypt to the Gaza border.

Some concerns are : Egyptian police preparing for "rioting".The peaceful nature of the convoy has been explained, but it appears they may be looking for an excuse to cause trouble.
Secondly there is a radical faction of some 30 young guys who are becoming disruptive and appear to have their own agenda. It's hoped that they will not precipitate a confrontation with the authorities.

This form of 'kettling' is probably designed to raise temperatures within the convoy and give the Egyptians an excuse to move in; the third road convoy was attacked in this way at al-Arish, but the first one was just attacked by mystery rock-throwers without warning or reason.

Interlude: boycott video du jour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WweHjdJj7iM

Flashmob Says Israel Is Buying HP So We're Not

Update 2.30GMT, 28.10.2010: Again, word from Sonette, via her husband Emile :- They are still waiting at the Libyan-Egyptian border post.They have been accommodated in rooms ( on the Libyan side ) so are at least no longer camped in the car park !

It may still be some time before they get clearance to proceed, but apparently this is just normal procedure - part of the bureaucracy.

A team of convoy members was playing a game of football against the Libyan border guards while I was speaking to her.

She and Dave ( the firefighter ) have "adopted" a local puppy while they are waiting.

Dave has been a stalwart and real asset, along with Judith.

A friendly Egyptian took them to see his hotel in his car, and they inadvertently crossed the border.

No problem - the Egyptians took it in good faith and merely asked them to return.

Food may become a bit of an issue.

They have only had a breadroll so far today, but again, this seems to be the norm.

Quite a mixed bag of characters in the convoy.

There is even a group of New Zealand Goths. Mainly young guys and easy going.

They found a camel skeleton in the desert and have mounted the skull on their truck !

The fundamentalists remain problematic.

They are largely opposed to women on the convoy and don't want any music played apart from that associated with their prayer sessions.

Sonette has become used to this and quite likes it.

The Goths prefer their own music, but play it discretely in their own vehicle. The main concern is that the radicals may antagonise the authorities and jeopardise the whole convoy.

Photo from http://l2g09.wordpress.com/

Update 29th October: Resident graffiti artist Shahid Iqbal decided to embellish all the trucks in the convoy with gold paint. This caused some resentment, and the Irish particularly were apparently not amused. There were even calls to send him home from some of the members; fortunately Sonette managed to prevent this by getting him to remove his handiwork.

Food remains a concern.

While there are some small stores nearby, nobody on the convoy has much Libyan currency left, as they all pooled their remaining resources to buy additional medical supplies for Gaza before leaving for the border.

They do have foreign money but this is difficult to exchange.

If nothing else, some lessons will have been learnt that may be useful to future convoys.

The convoy is still at the Libyan-Egyptian border and is likely to remain there for some time.

Apparently no advance arrangements have been made either for this crossing, or for entry into Gaza.

They are considering waiting until the 4th for the Libyan Al Quds 5 convoy, which does have clearance, to link up.

Convoy members have the option of returning this afternoon, and one or two have said they are considering this option, but the vast majority are planning to stay on.

A potential development of real concern is that Egypt may refuse passage to any future land convoys.

Photo by Tim King

Salem-News.com also reported, on the 29th October:

An update on the Road to Hope Convoy rolled onto the group's Facebook page at 10:00 p.m. BST Friday 29 Oct 2010.

Ellie Merton wrote, "The convoy is in the border area of Libya, near Tobruk, staying in temporary accommodation until our very kind hosts can get enough hotel rooms together in Tobruk..."

According to information released later in the day by Libyaalyom.com, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman, Hossam Zakithe, said authorities will facilitate the road convoy through the port of Al-Arish, through the air and sea, and confirmed its refusal to receive the convoy by road.

Arabnews24.net reports that the

organisers of the convoy intend

to board vessels today in the

port of Benghazi, heading to

the Gaza Strip.

Continued at:http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/10/road-to-hope-long-wait-outside-egypt.html

Road to Hope Convoy: Tunisia and Libya

The Road to Hope Convoy passed into Libya on Thursday 21st.
The date has been changed for those flying in to meet the convoy in Libya from the 16th to Saturday the 23rd of October. This is because the convoy is taking the new longer route; it led to at least two potential travellers withdrawing from this particular journey, but those on the road are happily continuing. This entry will be extended as soon as more up-to-date information becomes available.

Three more for the Road

On Saturday 23rd, convoy veteran Sakir Yildirim, trade unionist Dave Chappell and leading young graffitist Shahid Iqbal flew out to join the Road to Hope Convoy. We should hear more from them soon.

Tunisia, get me out of here!!!

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Admin at http://l2g09.wordpress.com/

The hostility of the authorities was apparent when we attempted to stick to the route planned and enter Gabes for a break. They blocked off the turning that leads to Gabes with their vehicles so we stopped in the middle of the road and argued with them to allow us to roam freely into the city.

Tunisian/Libyan Border
After exchanging words with the police it had become more apparent what game they were playing. They were adamant not to let us into the city so we decided not to stay in the country any longer than needed and we told them 'we just want to leave your country; allow us to go'.

As we made our way to Ben Gardan which is the last town before the Libyan border, I looked at the map and noticed that the route they were taking us was not the direct, and main route. It seemed that they were taking us through the back routes that were really remote and it felt like that we were being taken around in circles. We kept stopping the police and asking where are they taking us - what they were telling us didn’t add up, yet we had no choice but to follow them.

As we got to a fork in the road we noticed that the turning to the border was blocked off and they weren’t permitting us to make our way there. They wanted us to stay the night in a scout’s camp. Personally I believe they wanted us to stay the night so they could exploit us and use us to publicise to the people of Tunisia that they support the Palestinian cause.

After negotiation and deciding that we would go to the border and leave Tunisia as soon as possible, the decision was changed and we then made our way to the accommodation. They hosted us and the mayor came down where he bought his banners and put on a little show for the cameras that they were treating us well. In my opinion we should have just left Tunisia, but the decision was made and although I voiced my opinion and dissatisfaction with the decision we stayed in Tunisia for another night.

Big reception in Libya

Tuesday 27th October: News has just come in that Sonette Aboud also flew out to join the Convoy, midnight from Heathrow, 23rd October to Tripoli. She reports that on arrival in the east Libyan city of Benghazi the reception - from the people and the local politicians - was overwhelming, including the presentation of a huge bouquet of flowers to her.

Judith Brown has managed to up date her own blog, from which this is an extract:

"We have had an interesting journey; the Bristol team has been bogged down with car troubles, especially the minibus which I am driving - . I think we seriously need to think of getting fewer, better quality cars for any future convoy.

We have a great team and a great commitment to the cause. We have had an amazing reception in Libya, with crowds lining the street to cheer us on.

They have also filled the vans with aid to take to Gaza. For example, one little girl bought a toy and a beautiful letter to give to a Gaza child, and she wants me to take a photo of the little girl I give it to.

We have seen some amazing places, fantastic scenery, I have had to practice my Arabic language, and my team in the minibus works well together, although as you can imagine we

have occasional arguments and differences but they have always been solved and

we have a good atmosphere and spirit in our vehicle - I sometimes wish I wasn't

the minibus leader tho! Not driving can be very boring so there is a

clamour to drive, which means that I am sometimes stressed out trying to keep

the peace and keep to fairness and justice inside the van - which in the end is

the hallmark which we should all be aiming for.

Thank you for all your support and good wishes, and your generous donations towards the trip. The political aim of breaking the siege is important, as the people in Gaza do

not deserve to be kept in isolation from the world. I am going to try to

meet a woman's group and Sonette and I are thinking we would like to organise

a future woman's convoy, with really good quality aid and good quality

vehicles, in which women in UK donate aid to women in Gaza. I think it

would be fantastic."

So far: the King of Morocco had asked the government to look after the convoyers; they were given Police escort through the country and hotels to stay in. The locals were very welcoming . In Algeria, the border, closed for 14 years, was opened to allow the convoy through. The Media made this a big story in Algeria and have given them the very best of receptions. In Libya, as well as being given accommodation and feasts, the groups have enjoyed bonding with the police and locals, who showed their support for the convoy.

The expectation now is that the convoy should be able to cross into Egypt by tonight.

It might take two days to travel up to Gaza from there; there is a good chance that everyone will be home in a few weeks.

For the next update: see http://palywely.blogspot.com/2010/10/hope-convoy-still-waits-at-egyptian.html

VIVA Palestina arriva!

At 8.45 GMT today, I received this message on my mobile phone:

Congratualtions Viva Palestina! convoy is IN GAZA!!! THEY MADE IT!!! TEAR THE WALLS, BREAK THAT SIEGE, FREE FREE PALESTINE!

Azura, one driver with Viva Palestina Malaysia, has been maintaining a blog on the viva palestina 5 website. Here is one of her most recent entries:

Salam and hi my dearest family and friends,

At 10pm, Malaysian time today, we, the Viva Palestina 5 Land Convoy is destined by the Al Mighty to be standing in the land of the Prophet, Palestine.

To be exact, Gaza....

I cannot express my feelings as we were nearing to the Border moments before.

When I saw the sign, 5 km to Rafah Gate... I was like.... someone pinch me....

I snapped 2 photos of the road signs and sent them to my super girls- Zab, Jem and Azian.

And as expected, all the 3 cry babies started crying....

Haiyo....

Guys, stopped crying ok... you are not helping me here..... I cannot go into Gaza crying.... not especially when I have Mr Malaysia Tough Man (who was selected among the 30 to be on the cargo vessel to El Arish Port) beside me- Dr Musa!

Then, suddenly..... I saw the infamous Rafah Border- the yellow brick shaped like an upside down half-U that if we get passed it, will bring us all to Palestine...

This is the same gate that I have been seeing all these while in the news, video clips and youtube videos...

My heart just beat so fast.

Then at 22.10, Malaysian time, I sent out a message to my 3 beloved darlings...

** Oct 21 Thu 22:10 **

Azura: We are standing in palestine !! Alhamdulillah

Seeing thousands of jubilant, welcoming Palestinians , Kevin Ovenden, the convoy director, expressed his joy at being in Gaza once again. "We have driven more than 3,000 miles to bring this essential aid and to break this illegal siege of Gaza. We have been joined by supporters from Morocco and Algeria and from the Gulf States and Jordan, to make this the biggest convoy ever to break the siege of Gaza. We are absolutely overjoyed to be here and to bring with us the soil from the graves of those who were massacred on the Mavi Marmara which will be used to plant trees as a memorial to their sacrifice."

The convoy set out four weeks and five days ago from London. It travelled through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Syria. Everywhere the convoy was welcomed and overwhelmed by the generosity of well-wishers. Towards the end there was a frustrating delay in Syria while negotiations "at the highest levels" were conducted with the Egyptian authorities. In the end it was all worth it as the Egyptian authorities decided to allow passage of the whole convoy; unfortunately excluding just 17 members of the convoy including George Galloway - although one of them, Lifeline 5's spokesman Zaher Birawi, managed to pass through .

The convoy - transport and contents - will be handed over in its entirety to the relevant bodies tomorrow and the members of the convoy then expect to leave Gaza and return home in the next 48 hours after celebrations and formal thanks are given.

Convoy leaders have been keen to correct inaccurate reports that had appeared in the New York Times and elsewhere. These claimed that the convoy had entered Gaza through Israel.

Meanwhile, the struggle for survival continues. Freedom Flotilla, in May, was famously carrying cement for rebuilding, a vital material denied, of course, to the Gazans by the Zionist regime. Recently, three Palestinians have been shot and injured by Israeli troops while collecting rubble near the Gaza Strip's border with Israel. Young Palestinians regularly scour the area for anything that may be recycled for building material.

Aid Convoys to Gaza: latest

News from the Road to Hope Convoy, by Ebrahim's blog, is: "Road to Hope Convoy in CONSTANTINE, ALGERIA. Driving to the Tunisia Border tomorrow, Follow us on www.roadtohope.co.uk or www.bglink.com or username Mooh99 on youtube...Pray for us..."

Meanwhile, two activists waiting at home to fly to Libya, where plan(A) is to join the convoy, have been told their flights are postponed, and are waiting, or looking, for alternatives.

At the same time, there has been a further delay in the departure of the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza. Due to depart on the morning of the 18th, the convoy remains for the moment in Latakia, Syria. Convoy negotiators are in intensive discussions to try to resolve formalities which are still holding things up.

"Meanwhile the Israeli Defence Force has been making threatening noises concerning the "flotilla",which we assume means the boats ferrying the convoy to the Egyptian port of Al Arish. Convoy leaders reiterated they would not be deterred by any Israeli threats and intend to ensure the safe transportation of the medical aid to Gaza via Egypt and the Rafah Crossing at the earliest opportunity."

Road to Hope Convoy on time

Ebrahim Musaji, veteran of the Freedom Flotilla, is keeping us in touch by blog. Here is his entry from Thursday:

Road to Hope convoy is currently in Algeciras in Spain, we will leave for tomorrow for Morocco, We have spent this afternoon in Moroccan area of Algeciras where we have Prayed in the Masjid made many friends, collected donations, ate Moroccan Food and also drank Tea, Alhamdulillah as the Journey goes on the bond is getting stronger and we are learning about each other and also the way convoys work....Some very important news - Gloucester to Gaza vehicle that was left in Begles France due to breakdown during Viva Palestina 1 was repaired and is now being used by the E team as the convoy support vehicle broke down, Subhanallah!!!! Remember us in your prayers...

I will update as I go along and when we have access to the Internet

Ebrahim, who also travelled on Convoy 1, plans to join IHH on the ships and stay in Gaza to carry out project work. He said, "I intend to work in Projects which involve the Youth, Sports, Building work and many other projects in and around the Gaza Strip."

Late news, Saturday: Judith Brown's van, in Morocco, needs minor repairs; she is taking the time to catch up on emails.

Viva 5 Convoy cleared to sail

After a tense ten day stand off in Syria, the Viva Palestina aid convoy to Gaza has now been cleared to sail.
The first convoy strand started out from London on Saturday 18th September and drove down through France, Italy, Greece and Turkey before arriving in the port of Latakia, Syria, on Saturday 2nd October. In Latakia, the convoy has been joined by two other convoys. One came from Morocco and Algeria, the other originated in Doha and came through the Gulf states and Jordan.

There are now 147 vehicles about to board two ships together with 380 people from some 30 countries stretching from New Zealand and Australia to Canada and the United States carrying aid worth some 5 million dollars. This includes 40 people who were on the Freedom Flotilla which was attacked by Israeli commandos murdering nine human rights activists.

Over the last ten days in Syria, the convoy has taken on medical supplies urgently needed in the besieged Gaza Strip. Simultaneously negotiations have been conducted with the Egyptian authorities to allow passage into the port of Al Arish and then on to the Rafah Crossing. The support of the Syrian authorities and others has been vital in the successful negotiations.

Last night (13th October) word finally came through that the Egyptian authorities would allow the ships to dock, unload and passage through to the Rafah Crossing and Gaza would be guaranteed.

The ships will now sail past the place where the Mavi Marmara was attacked and flowers will be laid in memory of the victims. When the convoy reaches Gaza the soil from the graves of some of those who were murdered will be used to plant trees as a memorial to the Mavi Marmara victims.

The convoy hopes to reach Gaza this Saturday or Sunday. Organizers of the aid convoy would not stay for long in the Syrian port of Latakia and would set sail to Al-Arish in Egypt on Friday, according to the Palestine Information Center reporter accompanying the convoy.
This followed news that the Egyptian authorities had transferred six Indonesian activists from Al-Arish to Cairo.
Zaher Al-Beirawi, the spokesman for the convoy, revealed earlier that Cairo had backtracked on an earlier consent to the passage of the convoy to Gaza, noting that efforts had returned to the point where they started.
He said that Cairo put forward new conditions banning entry of certain names and big trucks.
He told reporters accompanying the convoy on Monday night that the organizers had positively responded to the Egyptian request of banning former British MP George Galloway from accompanying the convoy, but they were surprised at the new Egyptian conditions.

Road to Hope is underway

The Road to Hope convoy, which departed from London on Saturday 11th October, will be joined by participants from a number of countries before it eventually attempts to cross the Rafah border from Egypt into Gaza. Mohamed Elnaddad of Bristol Gaza Link reported that the send-off was good with over 30 vehicles from all over the UK; the Bristol group, despite two vehicle breakdowns, is making good progress and was already in southern France heading for Spain.

Al Jazeera's Tania Page, reporting from London, said organisers of the Viva Palestina 5 Convoy, travelling ahead of Road to Hope, say the attempt is the biggest and most international aid convoy ever bound for Gaza, with 148 vehicles carrying more than five million dollars worth of medication, school equipment and aid.

"By the time the convoy reaches the Strip it will have grown from 15 vehicles to 150 - picking up support across Europe and the Arab world," she said. "Most of the journey will be over land, but the aid will be transferred to ships for transportation between Syria and Egypt.

"The aid workers hope to deliver their supplies through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza early next month."

Members of the convoy plan to hold a remembrance ceremony as they pass the area where Israeli troops conducted a deadly raid on the Freedom Flotilla destined for Gaza on May 31.

Picture: The Bristol contingent parades through town before setting off

Bristolians, westerners and one Londoner for October Convoy

On Saturday 9th October, a big crowd, flags and banners at the ready, gathered to see off the Bristol contingent for the Convoy of Hope, which will travel through North Africa, Syria and Egypt to Gaza. After a parade round the east of the city, the vehicles, assembled in only a miraculous three weeks, were off.

Dundee flies the flag and Bristolians hit the road

Members of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign's Dundee Group and Tayside for Justice in Palestine have called for the council to raise the flag in the wake of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza in May.
More than 3000 people signed a petition backing the move and calling for Dundee City Council to support the next aid flotilla and to boycott Israeli goods and services.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/article/5938/dundee-city-council-flies-the-flag-for-palestinians.html

Meanwhile, other convoys are setting off, or laying plans. A group of Bristolians leave town on Saturday 9th October to join the latest road convoy, which will have major backing from the Syrian Government, http://bglink.ning.com/. Leading the group will be Mohamed Elhaddad, chair of Bristol-Gaza-Link Association, Dr Judith Brown Vice-Chair of Bristol-Gaza-Link, Keith Darkin, Martin Longhurst from Swansea plus Ebrahim Musaji from Gloucester. The vehicles will be loaded with donated aid. This includes donated medical and educational materials which are still desperately needed in Gaza.

Others plan to travel by sea, as reported in Haaretz:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/
hundreds-of-activists-from-muslim-countries-planning-new-gaza-bound-flotilla-1.317150

Jewish humanitarian boat to Gaza

The Israeli navy intercepted a catamaran carrying humanitarian aid and nine Jewish activists off the coast of Gaza on Tuesday [28th September] morning, according to the Israel Defence Forces and the mission’s organizers.

The boat was diverted to an Israeli port, according to a post on an official Israeli military blog, headlined, “Provocation Yacht on Its Way to Ashdod Port, Boarded by Israel Navy Without Incident.” On their Web site, JewishBoattoGaza.org, the mission’s organizers said in a statement:
The Irene, a boat carrying nine passengers and aid for Gaza’s population, has been taken over by the Israeli navy and denied access to Gaza. The boat is flying a British flag and its passengers include citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Israel. Two journalists are also on board.

Last contact with the boat’s captain, Glyn Secker, was at 0937 G.M.T., when their path had been cut off by a destroyer. Recent reports from other news sources indicated that the boat has been surrounded and boarded. At this point they were less than 20 miles from Gaza’s shore. Since then all phones went dead.
The occupied Gaza Strip’s territorial waters end 12 nautical miles from shore, but the Israeli blockade is enforced at 20 miles from shore.

Originally posted by Chantal at BGLink.ning

Gratuitous violence during boarding; tasers; cameras stolen; invasive searches at Ashdod - "It's fantastic coming back to amazing support that’s buzzing. I’m overwhelmed with the results I think it was really successful. We made our point to the world very powerfully that there are probably hundreds of thousands of Jews around the world who are appalled at the Israeli policies to the Palestinians; the violations of their humanity and their human rights." - see JewishBoattoGaza.org for updates