Third Viva Palestina convoy sails for Egypt

[ 03/01/2010 - 11:09 AM ]

LATAKIA, (PIC)--

The third Viva Palestina international aid convoy (Lifeline), which was forced by the Egyptian authorities to turn around, sailed off Saturday evening from the Syrian port of Latakia to the Egyptian port of Arish.

The convoy sailed after the Syrian authorities provided all possible assistance to its participants and secured their needs, according to remarks made by governor of Latakia Khalil Mashhadiya.

Spokesman for the convoy Zahir Al-Berawi told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the convoy which was warmly received by Syria decided to transport its vehicles and cargo by a Turkish ship designed to carry goods and heavy equipment, pointing out that the convoy activists would fly to Al-Arish airport to save time.

Berawi said that the convoy, which had reached Aqaba, was forced to head back through Jordan and Syria to take ship from there to Egypt, although all countries the convoy passed through including Egypt were informed three months ago about the destination and course of the convoy.

For his part, Ezzat Al-Resheq, a member of Hamas political bureau, expressed, in a press statement to the PIC, his dismay and regret for forcing the Viva Palestina convoy to change its course, saying that this convoy was welcomed by all countries it traveled across except Egypt.

Galloway Gaza convoy leaves Syria

Published today (updated) 03/01/2010 21:32

Bethlehem – Ma’an –

A British-led aid convoy bound for the Gaza Strip is on its way to the Egyptian port of Al-Arish after departing Syria by boat, organizers said on Sunday.

The Viva Palestina convoy, led in part by firebrand British MP George Galloway, loaded 210 truckloads of food and medical supplies onto a ferry in the Syrian port of Latakia.

The group, which set out from London nearly a month ago and drove through Turkey and Syria, spent five days stranded in Jordan after Egypt denied it permission to travel to the Red Sea port of Nuweiba, insisting that aid convoys should transit through the port of Al-Arish, on the Mediterranean.

The convoy had originally planned to enter Gaza on 27 December, the one-year anniversary of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip which left more than 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead.

In a message released on an affiliated website on Sunday, Viva Palestina’s organizers said they received verbal assurances from Egypt that they would be allowed to dock in Al-Arish on Monday.

Another group, the Gaza Freedom March, also faced opposition from Egyptian authorities with a plan to bring 1,300 international demonstrators to the Strip for a march against the Israeli-led blockade. Fewer than 100 from the group were allowed into Gaza, the rest stranded in Cairo.

Galloway led two other successful convoys to Gaza in 2009.

Israel has maintained a siege of Gaza since June 2007 when the elected Hamas government took full control of the territory, shutting down security forces loyal to rival group Fatah.

Khudari warns of Israeli interception of lifeline sea voyage

[ 03/01/2010 - 07:35 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular anti siege committee, has warned of a possible Israeli piracy at sea targeting the international aid convoy Lifeline-3 while en route from Latakia, Syria, to El-Arish, Egypt, then to Gaza.

He warned that the Israeli navy might intercept the ship carrying the aid convoy and endanger the lives of those on board who represent 40 countries.

The lawmaker said that the Israeli interception would necessitate international punishment, calling on the free people of the world to assist the ship during its voyage.

He said that the Israeli occupation does not want the convoy or the solidarity activists to reach Gaza because they would later convey the suffering of the Gaza people and unmask the ugly image of occupation.

Khudari asked the solidarity activists to insist on reaching Gaza.