The Egyptian government had climbed down over its previous refusal to allow the Viva Palestina convoy into the country on its way with medical aid for the people of Gaza.
The Egyptian terms for allowing the convoy access to Gaza via the Rafah crossing have been announced as:
1) The convoy must cross into Egypt from Syria;
2) It must get permission from Israel to enter Gaza; and
3) It must hand over all aid/vehicles to UNWRA.
Travellers sent messages saying that they only agreed to the first condition, and that it was by no means certain even so that they would be allowed into Gaza.
Team leader of the Bradford contingent on the convoy, Arshad Ali, confirmed the agreement in a text message on Monday evening: "Yes, it's true. We have to go back to Syria - another three days added to our journey. We will end our hunger strike tonight. Thanks to everyone for your solidarity. It meant a lot to us all. We will be leaving Aqaba at 5 in the morning (7am UK time)."
A message from another traveller on the Twitter social networking site read: "Back to Syria means 700Km back northwards by road, means a long, hard drive and means additional fuel costs. Plus 5 days wasted in Aqaba!"
The agreement came after a Turkish mediator reached a deal with the Egyptian consul in Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba. At first, the Turkish official requested that the convoy be allowed to enter Egypt through the Red Sea port of Nuweiba, the most direct way to Gaza, but this was refused.
The convoy is now heading to the Syrian port of Latakia to sail from there in a Turkish-funded charter vessel for a 19-hour trip to the Egyptian Mediterranean port of El Arish, and then to Gaza.
When the Egyptians blocked access, the convoyers declared a hunger strike and supporters throughout the world joined in.
Meanwhile, at least 300 French participants of the Gaza Freedom March spent the night camped out in front of their embassy in Cairo, bringing a major road in the Egyptian capital to a halt as riot police wielding plexiglass shields surrounded them. On Sunday, police briefly detained 38 international participants in El-Arish, the port to which the convoy is now headed. Another group of eight people, including American, British, Spanish, Japanese and Greek citizens, were detained at the bus station of El-Arish in the afternoon of December 27.
Supporters are urged to write to the Egyptian embassy welcoming the country's climb down, but insisting the convoy be allowed into Gaza.
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 )
Please forward and distribute widely.
-----------
Go well.
Karl Dallas
Follow me on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/karldallas
Want to help the people of Palestine? Then follow http://www.twitter.com/bradfordvp and http://www.twitter.com/dpalestine
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Saturday 19 December 2009
Viva Palestina in Greece
The Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy reaches Thessaloniki, Greece
Watch Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Jhq3KMYpE
Press TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5hgkLPF0Mk
Sunday 13 December 2009
Thursday 10 December 2009
Viva Palestina Aid Convoy reaches Italy!
The Viva Palestina aid convoy to Gaza which left London on Sunday has arrived in Italy on its way through Europe. The convoy, which is made up of more than 80 vehicles, including 15 ambulances, is picking up more drivers and vehicles on the way.
Click to watch video update:
Click to watch video update:
Sunday 6 December 2009
Saturday 5 December 2009
Thursday 3 December 2009
Viva Palestina- Giving Gaza a Helping Hand
1) You can still help
With the convoy to Gaza leaving in three days for its three week journey to Gaza, there are still ways YOU can help.
AID: For a list of what is desperately needed please visit:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5bwide.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=79&l2_id=84
If you live in London and would like to drop off items to take to Gaza, please contact: Riaz at 07956 525 727 (Bethnal Green – close to the tube under St John’s Church)
There are also regional teams across England, Wales and Ireland – to find out who the team leader in your region is.
Important note: All donations must be in clear plastic storage boxes and content of the box should be clearly labelled. If possible, take pictures of the aid If you know the recipient, please put their details on the box - this will make the distribution in Gaza much easier.
Support the convoy volunteers by donating:
• CAMPING SUPPLIES - Tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, etc.
• LAPTOP COMPUTERS
• INTERNATIONALLY COMPATIBLE MOBILE PHONES
• GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS - Uploaded with international maps
• CB RADIOS - To install in our vehicles
• POWER CONVERTERS - Especially vehicle-to-household power outlet converters
• MEDICAL KITS
All of these items will be used, if needed, on the journey and will be left in Gaza as donations to the medical community there. Not only will they help convert our vehicles into ones that will be most efficiently used for medical purposes in Gaza, but all that can given to our medical NGO's for use in clinics and hospitals, will be donated directly to them.
For enquiries about aid please do NOT reply to this email but send your email direct to aid@vivapalestina.org
2) Plans for Sunday 6th
Due to logistical difficulties, not all of the vehicles going to Gaza will be coming into Central London for a send off on Sunday morning. Those driving the 15 ambulances dedicated to the memory of those killed during Israel’s assault on Gaza last December/January whilst on duty will attend a photo call and mini send off for supporters, families, and media outlets. This will take place on the Embankment between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge at 10am.
For press enquiries contact: alice@vivapalestina.org or ring 07944 512 469
3) Convoy 3 - the official shirt
Philosophy Football's latest Palestine T-shirt is in support of the third 'Viva Palestina' convoy which leaves London for Gaza on 6 December. The Arabic text translates as 'A Lifeline from Britain to Gaza'. Back shows route of convoy, Britain-Gaza. All profits from the shirt help fund the convoy.
Wear it with pride, be part of making history on the road to a free Palestine. In sizes S-XXL.
SPECIAL OFFER - BUY BEFORE THE CONVOY LEAVES AND £5 OFF - JUST £15.99. Available from http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=561
And while you are wearing the shirt - don't forget the fantastic new Viva Palestina enamel badge - from just £2.50
With the convoy to Gaza leaving in three days for its three week journey to Gaza, there are still ways YOU can help.
AID: For a list of what is desperately needed please visit:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5bwide.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=79&l2_id=84
If you live in London and would like to drop off items to take to Gaza, please contact: Riaz at 07956 525 727 (Bethnal Green – close to the tube under St John’s Church)
There are also regional teams across England, Wales and Ireland – to find out who the team leader in your region is.
Important note: All donations must be in clear plastic storage boxes and content of the box should be clearly labelled. If possible, take pictures of the aid If you know the recipient, please put their details on the box - this will make the distribution in Gaza much easier.
Support the convoy volunteers by donating:
• CAMPING SUPPLIES - Tents, sleeping bags, camping stoves, etc.
• LAPTOP COMPUTERS
• INTERNATIONALLY COMPATIBLE MOBILE PHONES
• GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS - Uploaded with international maps
• CB RADIOS - To install in our vehicles
• POWER CONVERTERS - Especially vehicle-to-household power outlet converters
• MEDICAL KITS
All of these items will be used, if needed, on the journey and will be left in Gaza as donations to the medical community there. Not only will they help convert our vehicles into ones that will be most efficiently used for medical purposes in Gaza, but all that can given to our medical NGO's for use in clinics and hospitals, will be donated directly to them.
For enquiries about aid please do NOT reply to this email but send your email direct to aid@vivapalestina.org
2) Plans for Sunday 6th
Due to logistical difficulties, not all of the vehicles going to Gaza will be coming into Central London for a send off on Sunday morning. Those driving the 15 ambulances dedicated to the memory of those killed during Israel’s assault on Gaza last December/January whilst on duty will attend a photo call and mini send off for supporters, families, and media outlets. This will take place on the Embankment between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge at 10am.
For press enquiries contact: alice@vivapalestina.org or ring 07944 512 469
3) Convoy 3 - the official shirt
Philosophy Football's latest Palestine T-shirt is in support of the third 'Viva Palestina' convoy which leaves London for Gaza on 6 December. The Arabic text translates as 'A Lifeline from Britain to Gaza'. Back shows route of convoy, Britain-Gaza. All profits from the shirt help fund the convoy.
Wear it with pride, be part of making history on the road to a free Palestine. In sizes S-XXL.
SPECIAL OFFER - BUY BEFORE THE CONVOY LEAVES AND £5 OFF - JUST £15.99. Available from http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=561
And while you are wearing the shirt - don't forget the fantastic new Viva Palestina enamel badge - from just £2.50
Wednesday 2 December 2009
Important notice to all UK Convoy volunteers
Viva Palestina
Email Alerts
2nd December 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Important notice to all UK Convoy volunteers
Below is the plan for Saturday 5th December
Vehicles must arrive at London Gateway services on the M1 just south of the M25, it is the last service station on the mortorway, on Saturday from 11am to complete the final paperwork, get the vehicles stickered up, sign the indemnity forms and so forth.
On Sunday 6th December
Vehicles will gather on the Sunday from 9am at the services on the *CLACKET LANE* SERVICE STATION ON THE M25 HEADING EASTBOUND, THE ANTI-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION, FOR HEADING DOWN TO THE M20.
There will be 15 ambulances to go to the Embankment in London on Sunday from 10am to 11.30am for a photocall and official Convoy launch.
These vehicles will then drive around Parliament Square and then down Embankment to East London down the Whitechapel Road, down to the Blackwall Tunnel approach road then through the Blackwall tunnel and down to Folkestone.
It's then just three thousand miles or so to Gaza.
Email Alerts
2nd December 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Important notice to all UK Convoy volunteers
Below is the plan for Saturday 5th December
Vehicles must arrive at London Gateway services on the M1 just south of the M25, it is the last service station on the mortorway, on Saturday from 11am to complete the final paperwork, get the vehicles stickered up, sign the indemnity forms and so forth.
On Sunday 6th December
Vehicles will gather on the Sunday from 9am at the services on the *CLACKET LANE* SERVICE STATION ON THE M25 HEADING EASTBOUND, THE ANTI-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION, FOR HEADING DOWN TO THE M20.
There will be 15 ambulances to go to the Embankment in London on Sunday from 10am to 11.30am for a photocall and official Convoy launch.
These vehicles will then drive around Parliament Square and then down Embankment to East London down the Whitechapel Road, down to the Blackwall Tunnel approach road then through the Blackwall tunnel and down to Folkestone.
It's then just three thousand miles or so to Gaza.
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