A convoy providing aid and medical supplies to the people of Gaza set off from London after George Galloway MP spoke outside Parliament and highlighted the damage that has been done to the Gaza Strip by Israel in terms of both human lives and destruction of the land and civic structures. London, UK. 06/12/2009. (Images taken between 5-7/12/2009)
Angered by the lack of international response to the dire situation in Gaza following the Israeli attack in early 2009, Viva Palestina was born from the” Stop The War Coalition” and partnered by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign to bring aid and humanitarian support to the people of Gaza. As a result two previous convoys have already delivered much needed medical aid to Gaza. The first was in February 2009 and was the largest convoy since World War II. The second was organised by a sister group, Viva Palestina in the US which purchased 47 new vehicles in Egypt and filled them with medical supplies. The vehicles were then impounded by the Egyptian authorities and not allowed into Gaza but the aid was allowed through.
The current convoy set off for Gaza from London on December 6th 2009 after George Galloway MP spoke outside Parliament on the Embankment where he highlighted the damage that has been done to the Gaza Strip by Israel in terms of both human lives and destruction of the land and civic structures.
George Galloway spoke about Solidarity with the people of Gaza not only for the short term but also for the long term until Gaza is able to gain freedom from the shackles that stop Palestinains obtaining the basic human neeeds we take for granted. He spoke about the destruction of their Civil Liberties and basic necessities of human life; i.e. food, water and shelter. He spoke about the celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall and contrasted this to our witnessing of the building of the Iron wall by Israel. He asked why most of the world remains silent. He said “we need to bulldoze those walls down, freedom is not the domain of the rich and powerful but must be extended to the people of Gaza.”
“They are building another concentration camp, all the more shameful because it is Israel who is creating this new concentration camp and they ought to know better. Why is the world silent? Viva Palestina will not stand silent. We aim to break down these barriers and demolish those walls which violate the human rights of the people of Gaza”. George Galloway went on to recognise the generosity of the good people of Britain noting however that the poorest people had the biggest hearts and the greatest generosity even though they themselves have very little.
The Convoy consists of people from across the world including the U.K, USA, Malaysia, Australia, Morocco, Scotland, Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland and France. About 60 more vehiclews are joining in Turkey along with the vehicles that were stopped in the second convoy. This will ultimately result in a convoy of about 200 vehilcles and 450 people.
Some ambulances in the convoy are dedicated to the memory of the medics killed in the attack that triggered the first convoy’s action . As well as a tribute to those brave and dedicated people this action will raise the awareness of humanitarian misconduct and remind the world of the injustice Palestinians suffer on a day to day basis at the hands of Israel.
Despite the challenges and minor personal discomforts we face, we are well aware that they are insignificant in comparison to the hardships faced by the Palestinians day in and day out.
