Thursday December 31, 2009 05:17 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

A small delegation of 100 of the 1,340 peace activists from around the world gathered in Egypt for the 'Gaza Freedom March' were allowed to pass into Gaza Wednesday, while the other 1,240 marchers say that the approval of only 100 marchers is insufficient, adding that they should all be allowed in.

Two buses carrying the 100 'approved' activists and some of the humanitarian aid were allowed to enter Gaza through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing on Wednesday, after the intervention of Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

But most of the marchers disapproved of the deal arranged by the President's wife, including the co-founder of the Electronic Intifada website, Ali Abunimah. In a statement on his blog, Abunimah, who is one of the solidarity marchers, wrote "It's not enough and the pressure and protests should be kept up. This is not about getting some or even all into Gaza, its building global support and pressure to end the siege of Gaza."

Egyptian authorities have cracked down hard on the Gaza Freedom marchers since they arrived in Cairo from 42 different countries late last week. They have been prevented from holding meetings, harassed when walking around in groups of more than three people, prevented from leaving hotels, detained in bus stations and attacked by Egyptian riot police at a protest outside the French consulate.

Now, the Gaza Freedom Marchers remaining in Cairo say that they will hold a march there, in Egypt's capital city, on Thursday to show their support for and solidarity with the Palestinian population imprisoned in Gaza. They report that Egyptian police have blocked off the only bridge that leads toward the border with the Gaza Strip, and are maintaining a constant presence of riot police there to prevent the remaining marchers from trying to reach the border.

The Gaza Freedom March was organized by a number of groups and individuals to bring support and attention to the people of Gaza on the one-year anniversary of the Israeli invasion of the tiny coastal strip. During that invasion, over 1400 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, the vast majority of whom were civilians. 5 Israeli civilians were also killed at that time by Palestinian resistance fighters.

People involved in the march told the IMEMC that despite the Egyptian authorities' attempts to divide the march and deflect attention from the Israeli siege on Gaza, the marchers remain determined to show solidarity for their brothers and sisters in Gaza who continue to live imprisoned behind a border wall, unable to leave, unable to export their produce, and unable to import necessities such as medicine, food, fuel and school supplies.

Egypt grants 84 Codepink activists entry to Gaza

Published yesterday (updated) 31/12/2009 12:21

 Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Eighty-four of the over 1,300 international activists in Egypt for the Gaza Freedom March entered Gaza on Wednesday via the Rafah crossing along with medical supplies after the Egyptian government gave the Codepink delegation the okay for travel.

Several smaller delegations taking part in the Freedom March, set to take place Friday, were denied passage into the northern Sinai by Egyptian security, and approximately 40 others were detained outside the American consulate in Cairo. Egyptian officials had earlier said none of the groups would be granted permission to access the Strip.

This is the third time a Codepink delegation has entered Gaza, and according to organizers, the group has permission to remain in the Strip for two days.

The rest of the 1,200 plus delegates were invited by organizers to march in Cairo in the direction of Gaza in solidarity with the people of Gaza, but noted that Egyptian police would likely arrest marchers, since large gatherings are prohibited under Egyptian law.

A statement from the group said "information sheets containing important legal information have been delivered to all participants."