The Viva Palestina website would like to thank Reading PSC their dedication in getting news of the convoy out to the world and for their marvelous convoy map - viewed over 1.75 million times in the last month. Read their salute to the convoy here

Vehicles left in Egypt by convoy taken to Syria by IHH

The 43 vehicles that Egypt had not allowed to be taken into Gaza along with the rest of the Viva Palestina convoy have been shipped to Syria by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. They will then be donated to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon.

The vehicles were left at Arish port, as agreed with Egyptian authorities, to defuse a crisis over the vehicles. Egypt had blocked their entry into Gaza through its territory without providing any reasonable explanation. The other 153 vehicles were successfully taken to Gaza. 

The 43 vehicles were loaded onto ships by IHH officials to be taken to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon. The IHH, which managed to break the embargo as joint sponsors of the convoy, has launched preparations for another convoy. The foundation is planning to reach Gaza directly via sea in March 2010. Aid materials will be delivered to Gaza in five ships. Ppeople can donate vehicles, medical equipment and cash to be taken to Gaza alongside the planned marine convoy.  Viva Palestina will be joining the IHH every nautical mile of the way.

Congratulations
Some of the messages of support we have recieved from around the world
CLICK HERE

Egyptian police attack aid worker in ordeal
Maiden head Advertiser
Tales of terror as police ran riot
Slough and Langley Observer
Viva Palestina convoy breaks the siege of Gaza
Bill Cecil - Workers World
Welcome home for the Bristol-Gaza aid convoy
Bristol - 24/7
Humanitarian Aid 30 hours in Gaza
New Straits Times - Malayasia
North Yorkshire aid workers return from Gaza
The Press, York
Student reveals aid horror in Middle East
Derby Telegraph

Sale dad reunited with family after Gaza ordeal
Sale Messenger
Bristol Convoy Start To Return From Gaza

Jack FM

Odyssey for justice
Ramzy Baroud writes in Al-Ahram
Tinpot tyrant ain't seen nothing yet

George Galloway in the Daily Record


THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFELCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

Protests outside Egyptian embassy in Kuala Lumpur

From Ireland to Gaza
John Hurson reports CLICK HERE

A message from Kevin Ovenden - Viva Palestina convoy leader

"The level of support internationally for this mission has been tremendous. We`ve been understandably in a bit of a bubble - especially when we were barricaded in at the port of Al Arish. But we´ve got some sense of the scale of solidarity events and of media coverage.

"The sight of people lining the streets virtually the full length of the Gaza Strip, after waiting for 10 hours for our last vehicles to pass (thanks to further Egyptian delays) was the only vindication of that this initiative ever required.

"This was an incredibly diverse group of 518 people. Now we aim to build on that across the UK and internationally.

"Thanks to everyone who responded to the calls to action from the VP office. There are thousands of emails to respond to and we will do as soon as we can. We are now working on further plans for coordinated initiatives over the next 12 months, which will be announced shortly. "

A Poem for the Viva Palestina convoy

Dedicated to all those who took part in the convoy and those who supported it around the world.
CLICK HERE

Filistin Konvoyu'na görkemli karsilama


Bernama Should Highlight Gaza's True Scenario
Berama TV report
Malaysian Aid Team To Gaza Return Home Safely
Berama TV report
Galloway: Britain, Egypt need leaders like Erdogan
Press TV report
Obstacles in the path of aid agencies
Malaysia Star online
Inside Story - The politics behind the Viva Palestina convoy
Al-Jareeza English video
Women return home after taking part in Viva Palestina convoy
Waltham Forest Guardian
What next, Viva Palestina?
Sturat Littlewood at Redress Information & Analysis

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFELCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

 
PRESS TV REPORT 11.00 am GMT

 

George Galloway MP deported from Egypt
BBC News report
George Galloway Is Kicked Out Of Egypt
Miranda Richardson, Sky News Online (with video)
Egypt deports MP George Galloway
By Tim Moynihan, Press Association
Egypt deports British lawmaker Galloway
Press TV online report
George Galloway deported from Egypt
report in The Guardian
MP Galloway deported from Egypt
UKPA report
Egypt 'deports aid convoy leader'
Al-Jazeera.net report
The battle for Gaza
Amira Howeidy reports on the arduous journey of the Viva Palestina third aid convoy in Al-Ahram


THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFELCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

VIVA! VIVA! PALESTINA!

17.30 GMT Wednesday 6th January
One month, thousands of miles, ten countries, one ship and a four flights later, Viva Palestina has entered the besieged Gaza Strip.

Congratulations
Some of the messages of support we have recieved from around the world
CLICK HERE

11.00am GMT: Thursday 7th January
The Viva Palestina convoy have now handed their aid over to the Central Council of Charities - a non-governmental body of civic societies - at a ceremony in Gaza City. Convoy volunteers will now be visiting hospitals and other places where their aid will be put to use, as well as taking a tour of the devastated areas of Gaza.

Bülent Yildirim, president of the I.H.H- Insan Hak ve Hürriyetleri Insani Yardim Vakfi

In interview with Press TV George Galloway promises that in future, "You'll see Viva Palestina coming from all corners of the world."

Egyptian soldier killed in clash at Gaza border
- BBC report includes video clip of convoy entering Gaza and George Galloway's speech "I'm sorry we were late."
Derry men reach Gaza with aid
- BBC Northern Ireland Reports

Terror is the price of support for despots and dictators
- Seamus Milne writes in The Guardian
Viva Palestina Aid Convoy Arrives in Gaza, George Galloway Describes “Desperate” Situation
- Video footage and telephone interview with George Galloway (transcript as well)
Aid convoy led by George Galloway enters Gaza
- The Guardian videos
MP George Galloway In Egyptian Police Riot
- Sky News Reports
Riot police attack Britons in Gaza aid convoy
- London Evening Standard
Galloway: New Gaza convoys won't cross Egypt
- Press TV reports
Viva Palestina's bumpy road
- Al-Jazeera commentary
Telling the Truth
- Yvonne Ridley writes in the Tehran Times
Aid convoy breaks Gaza siege
- Al-Jazeera reports
Aid convoy enters Gaza after attack at Egyptian port
-Irish Times report
Gaza aid Brits 'beaten by police'
- Press Association UK

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

"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."
Kevin Ovenden, convoy leader

Al-Jazerra reports below
 

Press TV reports below

 

Short but oh so sweet! - Headlines from Al-Jazeera

 

“It is shocking that the Egyptian government is behaving in this way.  There can be no justification for preventing this aid and the people who have worked so hard to provide it from reaching Gaza .  The Palestinians are waiting for this well publicised international convoy to arrive and these actions of the Egyptian government, and the building of Egypt's  steel wall signal that Egypt is colluding with the Israeli government's illegal siege of Gaza.”
Betty Hunter, General Secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Press TV analysis ands interview with Betty Hunter below

 

Part Two here

 

Latest Radio Islam Interview with Kevin Ovenden
CLICK HERE

Press TV - 11.00 GMT

Viva Palestina: More Than 10 Injured, Seven Arrested

EL-ARISH PORT, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- More than 10 members of the Viva Palestina convoy were injured, four of them seriously, and seven members arrested by Egyptian police during a protest here Tuesday at 11.40pm local time.

Among those arrested was a Malaysian, Ibrahim Mohd Azmi, a University of Bristol medical student who was a convoy volunteer.

The protest was staged by Viva Palestina convoy members to protest against the decision by the Eqyptian government to bar 59 convoy vehicles from leaving here for Gaza.

READ MORE HERE

GAZA ACTIVISTS IN EGYPT PASSPORT PROTEST 

SKY NEWS REPORT HERE
Turkish TV Report HERE
Press TV Report below

 

Crisis in Egypt

Viva Palestina faced with 2,000 riot police in the port of Al-Arish!

To all friends of Palestine,

Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish.

This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.

He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port.

We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.

The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.

We are now calling upon all friends of palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy's and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!

Kevin Ovenden Viva Palestina Convoy Leader

Contact details including email addresses and phone numbers of Egyptian Embassies and consulates can be found here

Click here to read an example of one email sent this evening - feel free to use/amend, etc.

Up to the minute reports from the convoy can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Images from Al-Arish

 


14.00 GMT: Convoy vehicles begin to leave port at Al-Arish

Convoy Update
Tuesday 5th January 12.00am GMT

VIVA PALESTINA WIN AIRPORT BATTLE!

My last message to all of you was that the Viva Palestina convoy members have arrived into Al-Arish and were just hours away from breaking the siege of Gaza.

Now, I report to you that in the  past hour 157 Viva Palestina convoy members passports were taken away at Al-Arish airport by the Egyptian authorities. 

READ MORE HERE

Gaza activists in passport protest

Read Eric Ruder "Viva Palestina mission to Gaza"
CLICK HERE

Read Press Association story here

Please Support our Emergency Appeal

So we are asking our friends and supporters to dig deep in their pockets and make an emergency donation towards the costs now facing the convoy including chartering the ULUSOY-6 to tansport the vehicles and four or five flights to move the convoy members.

With your help we will once more deliver aid to the people of Gaza - and once more demand the end to this inhuman siege.

Thanks you for your support and may we wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Viva Palestina and friends

PLEASE MAKE A DONATION HERE

Thank you to the many supporters from more than twenty countries who have already donated online. Your generosity and support is wonderful.

READ MORE ON OUR ARCHIVE PAGE

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFELCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

Philosophy Football back emergency appeal with £1000 donation.


Convoy Blogs with all the tails of the road are below at

Reading PSC
Bob goes to Gaza
PSC blog
Bristol Gaza Link
GazaGiftAid.org London2Gaza
joti2gaza
york2gaza

middle east monitor
Waltham Forest PSC
Swansea Action for Palestine

and on Twitter


Official Convoy 3 shirt


New VP Enamel Badge

Viva Palestina 2010 Calendars - order here







THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFELCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.


PSC Poster

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE EXTERNAL LINKS FROM THIS SITE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN EXTERNAL LINKS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFELCT THE VIEWS OF VIVA PALESTINA ITSELF.

US CONVOY T-SHIRT
CLICK HERE

viva palestina


JOURNEY TO GAZA

A personal account of the Viva Palestina convoy by Shaukat Qureshi
(NB: 2.5mb pdf file)

T-Shirt and CD special offer. CLICK HERE

Letter of thanks from the Speaker of Palestinian Legislative Council (pdf)

viva palestina
Official Viva Palestina T-shirt


THEY STOLE OUR LAND
SOLIDARITY T-SHIRT
CLICK HERE