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For those who aren't aware Viva Palestina USA departed from New York to Cairo with the intention of delivering medical supplies and needed materials to the people of Gaza. The dedicated group of Americans have encountered many road blocks, literally and metaphorically on their journey. The below article will give you a detailed explantation of the trip, lead by British MP George Galloway and Kevin Ovenden, Viva Palestina Director. PLEASE call the number listed in my subject box as well as in the body of the below email. This is a legitimate number for Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Ambassador to the US. Ask him for the vehicles to be released and to be exported to Gaza through the Rafah border. :tti_sister:
Wasalam,
Jaclyn
Daily Update on Viva Palestina Convoy to Gaza
IN A SHOW OF DEFIANCE,
VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY HEADS FOR RAFAH CROSSING
In what seemed like a strange twist of fate to members of the Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy, Israeli warships sailed under the Mubarak Peace Bridge on the Suez Canal today, in what at least one Israeli news organization called an “unusual show of cooperation between Egypt and the Jewish State.” The Mubarak Peace Bridge is the same one where Egyptian authorities stopped four busloads of American activists trying to take humanitarian aid into Gaza on Saturday.
Though Israeli National News said Israeli Defense Forces had not confirmed the report, the media outlet reported Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Ghet said the crossings were legitimate in accordance with an agreement between the countries.
Meanwhile, more than 200 Viva Palestina activists have been in Cairo waiting on Egyptian authorities to allow them to proceed. But in a show of unity and defiance the convoy, organized by British MP George Galloway, set out tonight from Cairo for Gaza, where volunteers will disburse medical supplies, said Kevin Ovenden, Viva Palestina director.
Egyptian authorities said the convoy can remain in Gaza for only 24 hours.
“We're going in and coming out in unity and defiant,” Ovenden said. “They haven't broken our spirit. We are undefeated.”
“We are now on our way to complete our humanitarian mission, more determined than ever and stronger in heart than when we entered Egypt,” Galloway said. “We now look forward to seeing in a matter of hours the faces of the besieged people of Gaza.”
The convoy is taking two ambulances and 11 truckloads of medical supplies but has left behind hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of vehicles earmarked for hospitals and nongovernmental organizations. Egyptian authorities have refused to allow the vehicles to enter Gaza through its Rafah border. Currently, the sedans and pick-up trucks are in a secure location in Alexandria, Ovenden said.
In addition to the delays, U.S. authorities required American citizens to pay $30 and sign an affidavit, effectively waiving their right to U.S. services and protection once inside Gaza.
“These must be political decisions to dissuade people from undertaking any kind of activity to life the siege,” Ovenden said.
Israel's two-year siege had already plunged the 1.5 million residents into a humanitarian crisis by the time the IDF carried out a three-week assault in January that killed more than 1,400 people, wounded more than 5,300 and left more than 50,000 people homeless. The blockade has hindered aid efforts and hospital workers have told Viva Palestina their medical supplies and vehicles are in great demand.
When the convoy reaches Rafah, volunteers will drive into what is known as the ‘free zone' between borders. There the volunteers will transfer the medical supplies from the 11 trucks to Palestinian trucks. Some volunteers will walk into Gaza carrying heavy boxes in a symbolic gesture showing they made it to their destination despite the many obstacles they faced.
“They're carrying the heavy boxes to symbolize that even though they didn't get the aid into Gaza the way they wanted to, they still brought the aid in,” Ovenden said.
Ovenden said he would remain in Egypt for several days to try to get the vehicles released. Israel wants the cars and trucks to be transported to Gaza through Israel, something Viva Palestina refuses to do, Ovenden said. Viva Palestina will take into account the desires of the thousands of individuals and organizations who generously donated to the convoy, he added.
The American Muslims for Palestine calls on its supporters to continue to pressure the Egyptian government to release the vehicles by calling the Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S., Sameh Shoukry, at 202.895.5400. Ask for the vehicles to be released and to be exported to Gaza through the Rafah border.
AMP is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to educate the American public about the issues pertaining to Palestine and its rich cultural heritage. For more information, contact Kristin Szremski, director of media and communications, at 708.717.4180.
-- 30 --
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For those who aren't aware Viva Palestina USA departed from New York to Cairo with the intention of delivering medical supplies and needed materials to the people of Gaza. The dedicated group of Americans have encountered many road blocks, literally and metaphorically on their journey. The below article will give you a detailed explantation of the trip, lead by British MP George Galloway and Kevin Ovenden, Viva Palestina Director. PLEASE call the number listed in my subject box as well as in the body of the below email. This is a legitimate number for Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Ambassador to the US. Ask him for the vehicles to be released and to be exported to Gaza through the Rafah border. :tti_sister:
Wasalam,
Jaclyn
Daily Update on Viva Palestina Convoy to Gaza
IN A SHOW OF DEFIANCE,
VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY HEADS FOR RAFAH CROSSING
In what seemed like a strange twist of fate to members of the Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy, Israeli warships sailed under the Mubarak Peace Bridge on the Suez Canal today, in what at least one Israeli news organization called an “unusual show of cooperation between Egypt and the Jewish State.” The Mubarak Peace Bridge is the same one where Egyptian authorities stopped four busloads of American activists trying to take humanitarian aid into Gaza on Saturday.
Though Israeli National News said Israeli Defense Forces had not confirmed the report, the media outlet reported Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Ghet said the crossings were legitimate in accordance with an agreement between the countries.
Meanwhile, more than 200 Viva Palestina activists have been in Cairo waiting on Egyptian authorities to allow them to proceed. But in a show of unity and defiance the convoy, organized by British MP George Galloway, set out tonight from Cairo for Gaza, where volunteers will disburse medical supplies, said Kevin Ovenden, Viva Palestina director.
Egyptian authorities said the convoy can remain in Gaza for only 24 hours.
“We're going in and coming out in unity and defiant,” Ovenden said. “They haven't broken our spirit. We are undefeated.”
“We are now on our way to complete our humanitarian mission, more determined than ever and stronger in heart than when we entered Egypt,” Galloway said. “We now look forward to seeing in a matter of hours the faces of the besieged people of Gaza.”
The convoy is taking two ambulances and 11 truckloads of medical supplies but has left behind hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of vehicles earmarked for hospitals and nongovernmental organizations. Egyptian authorities have refused to allow the vehicles to enter Gaza through its Rafah border. Currently, the sedans and pick-up trucks are in a secure location in Alexandria, Ovenden said.
In addition to the delays, U.S. authorities required American citizens to pay $30 and sign an affidavit, effectively waiving their right to U.S. services and protection once inside Gaza.
“These must be political decisions to dissuade people from undertaking any kind of activity to life the siege,” Ovenden said.
Israel's two-year siege had already plunged the 1.5 million residents into a humanitarian crisis by the time the IDF carried out a three-week assault in January that killed more than 1,400 people, wounded more than 5,300 and left more than 50,000 people homeless. The blockade has hindered aid efforts and hospital workers have told Viva Palestina their medical supplies and vehicles are in great demand.
When the convoy reaches Rafah, volunteers will drive into what is known as the ‘free zone' between borders. There the volunteers will transfer the medical supplies from the 11 trucks to Palestinian trucks. Some volunteers will walk into Gaza carrying heavy boxes in a symbolic gesture showing they made it to their destination despite the many obstacles they faced.
“They're carrying the heavy boxes to symbolize that even though they didn't get the aid into Gaza the way they wanted to, they still brought the aid in,” Ovenden said.
Ovenden said he would remain in Egypt for several days to try to get the vehicles released. Israel wants the cars and trucks to be transported to Gaza through Israel, something Viva Palestina refuses to do, Ovenden said. Viva Palestina will take into account the desires of the thousands of individuals and organizations who generously donated to the convoy, he added.
The American Muslims for Palestine calls on its supporters to continue to pressure the Egyptian government to release the vehicles by calling the Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S., Sameh Shoukry, at 202.895.5400. Ask for the vehicles to be released and to be exported to Gaza through the Rafah border.
AMP is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to educate the American public about the issues pertaining to Palestine and its rich cultural heritage. For more information, contact Kristin Szremski, director of media and communications, at 708.717.4180.
-- 30 --
Join Our Email List
Email:
For Email Marketing you can trust
Forward email
American Muslims for Palestine | 10101 S. Roberts Road | Palos Hills | IL | 60465