The Viva Palestina convoy is now on the thirtieth day of its mission to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Gaza. After departing from London and travelling through Europe then down through Syria, the convoy was denied entry to Egypt across the Gulf of Aqaba, instead remaining in the Jordanian port of Aqaba. Following many days of protracted negotiations with the Egyptian authorities, the convoy was forced to accept a lengthy and unnecessary detour. This has delayed the aid from arriving at its destination and resulted in some of the convoy members having to return home without reaching Gaza.

The new route saw the convoy head back north to Syria, arriving in the Mediterranean port of Lataika on New Year’s Eve. Yesterday, the vehicles and a handful of the convoy members embarked on a seventeen-hour boat journey to the Egyptian port of El-Arish, which lies just twenty miles west of the Rafah crossing into Gaza. Shortly after midday (GMT) today, the Viva Palestina delegates moved out of the Palestinian refugee camp that had been their home for the last few days and headed for Lataika airport to be shuttled across to El-Arish.

The vehicles have cleared customs and the delegates are ready to fly. The Rafah crossing opened yesterday, so everything appears to be falling into place for the aid to be delivered tomorrow.

Viva Palestina delegate Fiona Edwards has sent the following report from the road to Gaza:
"Whilst many of us on the convoy are very frustrated and disappointed that Egypt has delayed the convoy from entering Gaza in time for the first anniversary of 'Operation Cast Lead' on 27th December to deliver our vital humanitarian aid, spirits are far from low.

For the past four days, the convoy has been hosted by a Palestinian refugee camp in the town of Lattakia, Syria. It has been a great privilege to spend time with refugees who were forced out of their homes in Palestine over 60 years ago and have been prevented from returning ever since.

One Palestinian family generously offered a few members of the convoy, including myself, dinner on New Year's Eve. As fireworks filled the Syrian night sky, I was reminded of the horrors inflicted on the population of Gaza by Israel this time last year; the only thing raining down from the sky in Gaza on 31st December 2008 were burning balls of white phosphorous.

Meeting and staying with Palestinian refugees, who are denied the right to visit their relatives and friends in besieged Gaza, over the past few days has made the convoy more determined than ever to reach Gaza with our aid and solidarity. Long live Palestine - Viva Palestina!"

Ian Drummond, another student on the convoy, commented:
"It has been frustrating that the Egyptian government has deliberately delayed the convoy and sad to see some convoy members have to leave before reaching Gaza as a result. But the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from people along the way, and especially the hospitality and generosity of the Palestinian refugees we've been staying with for the past few days, has raised our spirits and inspired us to see this through to the end.

The reception we've had in Syria (both times we've been here) has been phenomenal. When I went to a poetry night in Damascus in my Viva Palestina t-shirt, I was invited by the compère to make a speech about the convoy! One of the great things about Viva Palestina is that it shows the world that whilst the British government supports Israel's siege on Gaza, ordinary people in Britain have organised and raised money to relieve the suffering that the siege causes. I just hope this delay won't cause any more needless suffering and death in Gaza - because our aid did not reach the people of Gaza who needed it in time."

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.

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