Members of the Viva Palestina international aid convoy to Gaza will begin a hunger strike at 11.25am on Sunday, 27th December in protest at the Egyptian government's refusal to allow the convoy entry onto its soil.

Diplomatic negotiations are also taking place between the Turkish and Egyptian governments over the convoy's entry to Egypt. IHH, Turkey's main humanitarian aid agency, has 63 vehicles travelling on the convoy.

The Syrian government has also provided aid and vehicles, as has the government of Malaysia. More than 400 people from 17 countries are travelling on the 150 vehicle convoy, which is taking medical, humanitarian and educational aid to Gaza.

The convoy departed London on 6th December and has travelled nearly 3,000 miles across Europe and the Middle East. However, the convoy and its cargo of aid is now stopped in the Jordanian port town of Aqaba, having been denied entry into Egypt.

British MP, George Galloway, who is travelling with the convoy, said:
"Israel has kept Gaza under siege for three-and-a-half years against international law. It has not allowed aid or rebuilding materials in following its attack on Gaza earlier this year. Our convoy is determined to break the siege and take in urgently needed supplies. Spirits are high in our camp in Aqaba, and we are going nowhere except to Gaza."

It was at 11.25am on 27th December 2008 that Israel dropped its first bombs on the besieged population of Gaza. Three weeks later, following a sustained air, land and sea assault, more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed.

The Viva Palestina hunger strikers will consume only liquids until the convoy is allowed entry into Egypt.

Convoy members will also mark the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel's Operation Cast Lead by holding a march through Aqaba, jointly with the Jordanians. In the evening, more than 1,400 candles will be lit for a vigil.

The convoy has been jointly organised by the charity Viva Palestina and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the UK's largest organisation campaigning for solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Take action

In order to help the convoy get back on the road, please contact the Egyptian Embassy in London. Express your disappointment that they are not allowing the convoy to proceed and ask the person answering the phone to pass this message to the Ambassador.

You can contact the Embassy:
by phone - 020 7499 3304
by fax - 020 7491 1542
by email - eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg

27 Dec Join the vigil to mark one year since the beginning of the attack on Gaza - outside the Israeli embassy at 3pm

Join the Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Follow the Viva Palestina convoy at www.vivapalestina.org.

The Egyptian government has denied entry to the Viva Palestina aid convoy carrying medical and humanitarian aid to Gaza. The international convoy of approximately 150 vehicles and more than 400 people from 17 countries was given the news by the Egyptian Consulate in Aqaba late on Christmas Eve. Hundreds of tonnes of aid, including specialised medical equipment and powdered milk for babies, is now stockpiled in the Jordanian port town of Aqaba waiting for permission to enter Egypt via the Straits of Aqaba.

The convoy hopes to enter Gaza and break Israel's three and a half year illegal blockade of the Strip via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on 27th December. The date marks the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel's three week land, air and sea assault on Gaza, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians.

George Galloway MP, who is travelling with the convoy, said "We feel very sad that Egypt has turned us away on Christmas Day, but we hope they will reconsider. This is a very determined convoy and we're not going anywhere except to Gaza."

Take action

In order to help the convoy get back on the road, please contact the Egyptian Embassy in London. Express your disappointment that they are not allowing the convoy to proceed and ask the person answering the phone to pass this message to the Ambassador.

You can contact the Embassy:
by phone - 020 7499 3304
by fax - 020 7491 1542
by email - eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg

Join the Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Follow the Viva Palestina convoy at www.vivapalestina.org.

With three days until the first anniversary of Israel's brutal war on Gaza, the Viva Palestina humanitarian aid convoy has made it to Jordan. The convoy, comprising over two hundred vehicles, is aiming to arrive on 27th December, bringing solidarity to the besieged people of Gaza.

The convoy has received a particularly overwhelming reception from the people of Turkey, Syria and Jordan. Huge amounts of aid, vehicles and support were donated as the convoy passed through these countries.

The response from Palestinian refugees living in Syria and Jordan was particularly humbling. One 12-year-old Palestinian girl told a convoy member, "I'd like to come with you to my country to see my land, but I'm not allowed. Thank you for going. It gives us the strength to carry on."

Read more about the convoy's progress on the Viva Palestina website - www.vivapalestina.org - with regular articles, photos and videos from the road to Gaza. Follow the progress of Viva Palestina and help get the convoy in the news by contacting your local newspaper or radio station to let them know about its progress and why it is attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.

As the first anniversary of Israel's horrifying, brutal and indiscriminate war on Gaza draws closer the importance of raising awareness about the ongoing siege on Gaza is critical. Make sure that on 27th December 2009, everyone is reminded of the horrors inflicted on the men, women, children, civilians, teachers, doctors, ambulance drivers and students of Palestine during the war last December and January.

And make sure that everyone understands that this suffering continues today with the ongoing siege on Gaza which is denying the Palestinian people, who are trapped in the open air prison that is Gaza, of their human rights.

National Speaker Tour - End the Siege on Gaza

with eye-witnesses from the Viva Palestina convoy

If you would like to organise a meeting on your university or college campus with speakers from the Viva Palestina convoy in February or March, please contact students@palestinecampaign.org.

One year since the beginning of the attacks on Gaza - Vigil on Sunday, 27th December from 3-5pm

Join the vigil on Sunday, 27th December from 3-5pm outside the Israeli embassy in London. The vigil has been called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, British Muslim Initiative, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition and is supported by many more organisations.

Visit the Palestine Solidarity Campaign website for more information about the London vigil and also for details on local vigils near you - www.palestinecampaign.org.

• No public Twitter messages.

Student Respect welcomes the news that London Metropolitan University's disgraced Board of Governors this week agreed to resign in the face of massive opposition. Hundreds of people attended a demonstration on Tuesday to demand an end to the reckless mismanagement of the Governors, which has brought the university to the brink of collapse and led to the threat of severe job losses and course closures.

Commenting on the news, Abjol Miah, Respect's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, where many London Met students live, said:
"This is great news for all of us who wanted to see justice done at London Met University. I want to applaud the staff, trade unions and students who united to defend their university at this critical time. I hope that following today London Met recovers from this management crisis to once again offer a reputation for excellence that serves the whole community."

Student Respect backs the UCU lecturers' union demand that the governors should be forced out now, not next summer as has been announced. London Met needs fresh leadership as soon as possible so that students can have confidence that their university is on its way back up.

We also condemn the excessive and unwarranted police aggression at Tuesday's demonstration that left many people bruised and shook up. We have a right to protest to defend our education without fear of violence from the police.

London Metropolitan University may be forced to close after a stand off between the government and the board of governors.

Councillor Abjol Miah, Respect prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, has expressed his dismay at this threat.

"An authoritative report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has declared that Londion Met was overpaid as a result of a deliberate act of deception," said Councillor Abjol miah.

"Those responsible must be held to account. However the two groups of people who are entirely innocent in this debacle are the students and the staff. Yet their future is now in serious jeopardy. Not only that but the very future of a university which has provided the opportunity from many from a less privileged background to pursue higher education is in question."

"The government must act to secure the future of this university which boasts many excellent and presitigious courses and departments. They have bailed out the banks to the tune of tens of billions of pounds. A fraction of that money would secure the future of an institution that, unlike the City casino, performs not only a useful but an essential public service."

"I will be attending the emergency student union meeting this evening to pledge my support and the support fo the Respect Party to the students and staff who are threatened."

George Galloway, speaking from Bangladesh, pledged to work with his parliamentary colleague Jeremy Corbyn to urge the government to secure the future of the university.

Student Respect urges supporters to attend the PROTEST FOR THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO RESIGN - TUESDAY 15th DECEMBER at 4pm - Moorgate Building, London Met University.

Salma Yaqoob, leader of Respect, appeared on Question Time (10th December) and made a compelling case against the war in Afghanistan.

Salma defended British soliders and innocent Afghan civilians against a war which has been irresponsibly and badly managed, leaving our troops with little protection, security and safety; and which seems to have no end in sight. Visit Birmingham Respect's website (http://birminghamrespect.wordpress.com) for more.

Respect Party leader Salma Yaqoob will be a panelist on this week's Question Time, which will focus on the continuing occupation of Afghanistan. Salma, who chairs Birmingham Stop the War Coalition, will be joined on the panel by three of the major proponents of the war: Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell, shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague and former army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt. The fifth panelist will be journalist Piers Morgan whose brother has fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The BBC has been criticised for selecting a panel who do not represent public opinion on this issue. A recent Independent on Sunday poll revealed that almost three quarters of Britons support full withdrawal within a year or so. By only inviting one panelist out of five who oppose this war, the BBC are guilty once again of stifling anti-war voices and allowing the warmongers to escape proper challenge.

The case for ending the occupation of Afghanistan has never been clearer. Over 30,000 civilians have been killed and more than 230,000 have been displaced by eight years of fighting. The 100th dead British soldier has just returned from Afghanistan in the bloodiest year yet. Public opposition to the war has steadily been growing as people realise that far from making Britain a safer place, the occupation has fuelled hatred and helped terrorists in their recruitment as well as wasted around £12 billion. Despite this, politicians are not planning to withdraw from Afghanistan. President Obama has just announced the deployment of a further 37,000 US troops and Britain are expected to contribute 500 soldiers to the "surge". This can only result in more misery for the Afghan population as the occupying forces seek to establish a pro-Western state in the strategic central Asian region at any cost.

It is time the politicians listened to the public and brought an end to this expensive mistake. Although the BBC will not allow anti-war leaders to properly put the case on Question Time, the Stop the War Coalition, the Respect Party and the wider anti-war movement will continue to demand an immediate end to the occupation of Afghanistan.

Students have joined hundreds of other activists from across Britain and the world to take part in the blockade-busting Viva Palestina convoy.

The third convoy of its kind, the Viva Palestina convoy will be travelling for three thousand miles over the coming weeks, aiming to break the siege on Gaza on 27th December – the one year anniversary of the start of Israel's brutal war on Gaza.

Students have played an active role in raising thousands of pounds and collecting vital aid to be sent to Gaza with the convoy over the past few weeks. A number of students are joining the convoy itself and plan to meet with students in Gaza to foster links for further solidarity work.

Professor Noam Chomsky has wished students on the convoy well:
"What Viva Palestina have achieved on their previous convoys has been incredible. Not only did they break the siege on Gaza, but they brought much needed aid and solidarity on a massive international scale. The efforts of everyone from right across the world who took part in the previous convoys by giving up their time to drive to the stricken region of Gaza should be fully commended."

"To everyone taking part in the third Viva convoy I wish you all the very best of luck, and your efforts for the people in Gaza just warms my heart. You bring hope, solidarity, peace and love from right across the world. I am with you all the way in spirit."

The NUS Black Students' Campaign has enthusiastically supported the convoy, bringing Black students together nationally to discuss how they can contribute towards it at their annual Winter Conference. Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, NUS Black Students' Officer commented:
"The Black Students' Campaign strongly supports this convoy. Our brothers and sisters in Gaza have had their education destroyed by Israel's war and brutal siege. We wish the convoy all the success in breaking the siege. Viva Palestina!"

Fiona Edwards, Viva Palestina Student Officer, explained the importance of students getting involved with the convoy:
"It is very important that students play an active role in challenging Israel's inhumane and brutal siege on Gaza."

"Students in Gaza have been particularly hard-hit by Israel's war and ongoing siege. Hundreds of young people were killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza last January and countless schools, universities and colleges were completely destroyed. The ongoing siege has caused a severe shortage of vital educational supplies for Palestinian students – paper, ink, books, desks and more."

"This convoy is an important and practical way in which we can help students in Gaza and also raise awareness about the consequences of Israel's aggressive policies against the Palestinian people."

Students at Bradford University, with the leadership of Palestinian Sabbatical Officer Khaled Al-Mudallal, have played a leading role in fundraising for a vehicle to go on the convoy and have also brought together students from across the North to discuss how they can support the Palestinians' right to self-determination. Students at Warwick University have raised thousands of pounds to buy a van filled with aid which Fred Stevens-Smith and Nora Hassasien will be driving from London to Gaza over December. They said:
"We think it is very sad that we have to go to Gaza and deliver basic necessities which the Palestinian people have to go without day in day out all because our own government has failed to take a stand for justice and human rights. But we are very excited to meet our brothers and sisters in Palestine!"

After weeks of fundraising and campaigning on campus, SOAS student Ian Drummond is joining the convoy. He said:
"If we succeed in breaking the siege on Gaza we will not only be able to donate the much needed aid we have collected for Palestinian students, but we will also help to break their sense of isolation - an inevitable consequence of the siege which equals being cut off from the rest of the world. We also hope that by visiting Palestine, and meeting up with students over there, this will provide a basis for students in Britain to link up with students in Gaza for solidarity work in the future."

Mesrob Kassemdjian, a student from City University has raised £1,500 pounds and is also a delegate on the convoy. Explaining his motivations for joining the convoy he said:
"The people of Gaza really need the international community to support them and students in Britain have an important role to play. The Viva Palestina convoy is a truly unique way of contributing to the Palestine solidarity movement. Not only are we offering practical assistance but we are also highlighting the devastating impact of the siege."

Students from Kings College London have led a highly successful campaign on campus for the University to donate more than 30 boxes of surplus educational aid to students at the Islamic University of Gaza. Students at Essex University raised £2,000 in less than 3 days.

The Viva Palestina convoy has helped to inspire new layers of students to get involved with Palestine solidarity campaigning. The recently established Palestine Solidarity Society at Queen Mary has raised hundreds of pounds for the convoy.

Aleena Iqbal, President of the society, said:
"The Viva Palestina convoy demonstrates the courage and hard work of individuals striving to free Palestine. At Queen Mary we have been eager to show our support for the convoy by fundraising to sponsor a vehicle that will deliver aid to the Palestinians, as well as being used by schools and hospitals. Our Palestine Solidarity Society has been recently established, and we have been raising awareness on campus about the convoy and illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. We want freedom for Palestine. We want justice for the oppression and dispossession suffered by the Palestinian people. We want to restore the lives of the millions of children who have been victims by chance."

The convoy's progress can be followed online at:
www.palestinecampaign.org or www.vivapalestina.org.uk
You can also follow the convoy’s progress on Twitter @Pal_S_Campaign or @viva_palestina

Students are planning a speaking tour of universities and colleges across Britain when the convoy returns in the New Year.

6th December: Viva Palestina convoy leaves London to embark on 3,000 mile journey to Gaza.