Stranded aid convoy and Irish vehicles back on the road to Gaza

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Tuesday December 29, 2009 01:35 by IPSC media officer 087 1258325

The Ireland-Palestine Campaign (IPSC) has learned that the 'Viva Palestina' convoy bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza is back on the road.

The convoy - which includes a number of vehicles and 10 people from Ireland - had been stranded on the Jordan/Egypt border because of the refusal of the Egyptian government to allow it to enter the country to complete the final leg of its 4,000 mile journey to Gaza. It was originally planned that the convoy would bring its aid via the Rafah crossing on 27 December.

However, following lengthy negotiations between the convoy and the Egyptian authorities, the Viva Palestina aid convoy is back on its way to Gaza.

It has been reported that Egyptian Embassies and Consulates across the world have been swamped with phone calls and emails demanding that the convoy be allowed to reach Gaza.

Although Egypt are not permitting the convoy to continue on its chosen route, they have been forced to agree to a new itinerary which will involve the vehicles heading back north to the Syrian ports of Lataika - a journey of some five hundred miles. The convoy will then sail to the Egyptian port of El-Arish before driving the final thirty miles to Rafah and crossing into Gaza.

A press conference on Monday evening announced that the convoy will leave Aqaba in the morning to begin its detour. If all goes to plan, Viva Palestina should arrive at the Rafah crossing on Thursday or Friday.

It is likely, however, that this will not be the last obstacle for the convoy. It would not be surprising if Egypt - or another country - tries to further obstruct their humanitarian mission.

For more information, go to the open Facebook page 'Ireland to Gaza'.