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Viva Palestina Convoy Arrives in Gaza
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Clashes at Rafah Border - Press TV
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Viva Palestina Convoy Press TV News Analysis - PART 1
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Viva Palestina Convoy Press TV News Analysis - PART 2
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Al Jazeera: Clashes on Gaza-Egypt Rafah border
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Viva Palestina Convoy on Democracy NOW!
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Press Release
6th January
Viva Palestina Break the siege of Gaza!
After days of pressure imposed by the Egyptian authorities the Viva Palestina Convoy have 'triumphantly' entered Gaza this evening!
Despite being attacked by Egyptian riot police at the port of Al Arish last night, the 'strong willed' convoy of humanitarians from all over the world carrying much needed medical aid to the people of Gaza went ahead and was greeted with cheers from hundreds of well-wishers carrying flowers, warm smiles and chanting Viva Palestina!
Having agreed to Egyptian demands, the convoy of 500 people re-routed their journey from Aqaba in Jordan (some seven days ago), after receiving guarantees of a safe passage to Gaza. The recent actions of the Egyptian police are shameful.
Earlier today at the Rafah border violence broke out as hundreds of Palestinians began throwing stones across the border at Egyptian security forces, who then fired back at the protesters. This was in retaliation to the way the activists were treated by Egyptian police.
Viva Palestina convoy leader Kevin Ovenden says - We are all emotional to see that all of Gaza are out to greet us! - Our Viva Palestina convoy is symbolic! It shows the Palestianian people just how much the people of the West do care. We come in peace to deliver humanitarian aid and we hope that our convoy (and convoy's like ours) will help to build pressure on the Israeli government to break the siege.
The convoy aimed to cross the Rafah border into Gaza on 27 December 2009, to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel’s 2008/9 land and air assault on Gaza, which killed 1,400 Palestinians in three weeks. The Viva Palestina convoy is partnered with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and departed London on December 6 2009 and have travelled nearly 5,000 miles. The convoy has received a phenomenal support (since departing London), through it's route, Europe, Turkey, Syria and Jordan. For further information on the Viva Palestina Gaza Aid Convoy visit www.vivapalestina.org Press information from Alice Howard on Tel: 07944 512 469 or via email: alice@vivapalestina.org
--------------------- Alice Howard Viva Palestina UK - Administration Manager Tel: +447944 512 469 Email: alice@vivapalestina.org Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/ Egyptian soldier killed in clash at Gaza border The protest over the convoy delay was called by Hamas
An Egyptian soldier has been killed and at least eight Palestinians hurt in clashes at the Egypt-Gaza border.
Egyptian security officials said the soldier was hit by Palestinian gunfire from across the border, during protests over a delayed aid convoy.
International activists have been trying to take 200 aid trucks into the blockaded Gaza Strip, but Egypt has refused some of the vehicles access.
Dozens of activists were hurt during protests over the convoy on Tuesday.
The violence broke out as hundreds of Palestinians began throwing stones across the border at Egyptian security forces, who fired back at the protesters.
The Islamic movement Hamas, which controls Gaza, had called the demonstration over the convoy.
But Hamas police later fired into the air to disperse the crowd, witnesses said.
The Egyptian soldier was apparently killed by gunfire from the Gazan side.
Egypt and Israel impose a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip, which Israel says is aimed at weakening Hamas.
The Viva Palestina aid convoy, carrying items ranging from heart monitors to clothing and dental equipment, is aiming to break the blockade.
A spokeswoman for the group of about 500 international activists said the Egyptians had gone back on an agreement to allow their 200 aid trucks to enter.
Alice Howard said Egypt had said that dozens of the trucks would have to enter via an Israeli-controlled checkpoint - which Viva Palestina believed meant the goods would never reach their destination.
She said she understood the reason was because of the nature of some of the goods.
Items other than basic foodstuffs and medicines, such as medical machinery, are subject to a stringent approvals procedure, usually negotiated by established international aid organisations with the Israeli authorities.
Some of the activists staged a sit-in at the port of Al-Arish, where the trucks are currently waiting, which was broken up by some 2,000 Egyptian riot police, Ms Howard said.
Many of those injured were "quite severely beaten, with head injuries", she said. A few were taken to hospital, but returned to the convoy on Wednesday morning.
Several Egyptian security forces were also reported to have been injured.
Television footage showed Egyptian riot police hitting the activists with batons. Some of the activists responded by throwing stones.
UK MP George Galloway, with the convoy, said: "It is completely unconscionable that 25% of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza."
