Viva Palestina Convoy Permitted to Enter Egypt

[See also: Scoop Audio Report: Kiwi Gaza Convoy To Reach Egypt]

Viva Palestina Convoy Permitted to Enter Egypt

A few hours ago the Egyptian Government gave permission for the Viva Palestina convoy to enter Egypt, and deliver its humanitarian aid to Gaza, although the organization's founder, George Galloway has been declined permission to enter.

The convoy is comprised of over 400 people from 30 countries, and is carrying more than USD $5 million of medical and educational supplies and equipment in some 150 vehicles, mainly ambulances. The supplies include desperately-needed chemotherapy drugs for children with cancer.

Organisers say they expect to leave the port of Lattakia in Syria in the next 24 to 36 hours, to sail for the Egyptian port of Al-Arish.

The mood in the refugee camp, in which the convoy members have been staying for the past 12 days whilst awaiting Egyptian approval, is tonight upbeat, with groups gathering to discuss the new developments, watching the news, celebrating with a game of football, and texting the news to their organisations back home.

The convoy will pass through the waters in which the Israeli Defence Force attacked the Mavi Marmara on 31 May, killing nine Turkish citizens and wounding many more humanitarian workers. As they pass this site participants will throw flowers into the sea, before continuing on their way.

Although there is concern about how the Israeli Government might respond, especially from the 30 people who were also on the Mavi Marmara, most are confident that their passage will be peaceful. "I expect that the Israelis will shadow us in a boat to intimidate us, but the military option is off the table, in my opinion," said New Zealand convoy participant Patrick O'Dea.

Organisers are hopeful that there will be no last-minute problems, and that the aid, which has been a month in coming, will finally reach Gaza by next week.

ENDS

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