Regular readers will have been following the news of the IW Convoy to Gaza over Christmas. Rachel from IW Friends of Palestine tells us more below. You can hear Peter and Zuber’s stories later in the month at Quay Arts. Ed
Over Christmas two vehicles from the Isle of Wight and Solent area joined the Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza.
The trip took over a month because of delays caused by the Egyptian government, it’s thought under pressure from Israel and the USA.
Refused entry
When the convoy reached the border of Jordan and Egypt they were forced to retrace their steps, thousands of miles, back to Syria. The vehicles were then loaded on to a cargo ship, which the Israeli navy attempted to divert, before being admitted to a port on the north coast of Egypt.
There were further delays and – as happened on the last convoy – a night of being stoned by Egyptian riot police. However, somewhat to everyone’s surprise, the convoy was eventually admitted to Gaza and the aid distributed.
Vital supplies banned
The IOW convoy sent 100s of boxes of new equipment for schools and hospitals, £2,000 worth of medicines, clothing, bedding and 160 new books selected by the Al-Aqsa University’s on their Amazon ‘wish list’.
The Egyptian government is being paid by the USA to build an iron wall that reaches underground along the border with Gaza to cut off the tunnels that are a lifeline to Gaza.
Israel controls what goes in and out of Gaza and most items – toothpaste, toilet paper, toys, books, clothing etc. – are banned.
Future convoys banned
We had hoped to continue sending aid to Gaza, but the Egyptian government has banned all further land convoys. The only possibility for the foreseeable future is the Free Gaza flotilla – 10 boats that will be setting off for Gaza in the spring (despite the fact that previous Free Gaza boats have been rammed & fired on by the Israeli navy – in international waters – and the crew imprisoned in Israel). Please visit their website
We shall be fund raising and supporting this initiative in whatever way we can.
Talk and Film
On at 6.30pm on Thursday 25th February the two drivers, Peter Venner and Zuber Hatia, will be speaking at The Quay Arts Centre, where we shall also be showing a film about Gaza: To Shoot An Elephant.
In addition, Newport Trades Council have invited Peter to their meeting on 25th April. Anyone who’s interesting in finding out more about the Trades Councils is welcome to come along. Newport and Ryde Trades Councils have a very mixed membership of people – working, unemployed & retired – and the meetings are friendly and informal. If you are interested in either event, please contact
Rachel(at)Bridgeland.co.uk
