Galloway convoy plans Gaza entry

Published today (updated) 05/01/2010 16:35

Jerusalem – Ma'an –

A long-delayed British-led aid convoy expects to enter the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing from Egypt at 2pm local time on Tuesday, the convoy's spokeswoman Alice Howard told Ma'an.

Early Tuesday morning, Egyptian authorities withheld the passports of 157 Gaza-supporters travelling with the convoy at the Al-Arish airport. Among those whose travel documents were seized was British Member of Parliament George Galloway.

Those that arrived in Al-Arish were told that the remaining 400 volunteers due to enter Gaza with the convoy on Tuesday would not be allowed to transit, the Viva Palestina organization said.

The passports were stamped with entry and exit stamps, but were then returned to their holders with the exit stamp removed, the campaigners said.

Despite the setback, the convoy carrying medical and humanitarian aid intends to enter Gaza on Tuesday.

The convoy was left stranded in Aqaba, Jordan on Christmas Eve when Egyptian authorities announced that the convoy would not be allowed to dock in Nuweiba. Following negotiations, the convoy was told to return to Syria and send its supplies to Al-Arish by ferry.

Volunteers from 17 countries around the world will leave over 150 vehicles they have travelled in for the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Galloway led two successful convoys to Gaza last year.

Viva Palestina aid convoy docks in Egypt's Al-Arish sea port

Monday January 04, 2010 16:53 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies

Viva Palestina aid convoy ship has docked in Egypt's Al-Arish sea port on Monday and all the vehicles on-board have passed through Egyptian customs.

The international volunteers, headed by British MP, George Galloway, will fly throughout the day to Al-Arish airport to join those coming from Syria. The last flight will leave Damascus at midnight tonight.

The aid convoy was scheduled to reach the Gaza Strip on December 27th 2009, the one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza.

The Egyptian government did not allow the aid convoy to enter Gaza from Nowibi' sea port near the Jordan borders and forced the organizers to head to Syria then to Al Al-Arish sea port.

The Turkish ship that carried the convoy was harassed by Israeli naval forces forcing the crew to sail in the deep waters to avoid any attacks, the ship captain told reporters.

The Viva Palestina aid convoy consists of 220 trucks and some ambulances carrying the much needed food and medical supplies that the 1.5 million Palestinians living Gaza lack due to the three yeas long Israeli siege.

Lifeline-3 finally in El-Arish

[ 04/01/2010 - 05:37 PM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)--

The international aid convoy Lifeline-3 for Gaza finally arrived in El-Arish harbor in Egypt on Sunday evening aboard a Turkish cargo ship en route to Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of international activists are expected to join the convoy after arriving on board three Syrian airplanes to El-Arish.

Israeli gunboats provoked the ship but did not intercept it.

Mohammed Sawalha, the deputy head of the international committee to break the siege on Gaza, said that all 220 vehicles of the convoy were shipped aboard the freighter along with medicine and foodstuff.

The convoy was forced to turn back from the Jordanian port of Aqaba to Latakia port in Syria after Egypt refused to allow it entry through Nuweibi port.

The convoy, led by British MP George Galloway, is accompanied by 465 activists from 17 countries.