CONVOY TO GAZA ATTACKED IN EGYPT

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PSC Update and Urgent Action Alert

– Contact the Egyptian Embassy

– Contact the BBC

The Aid Convoy to Gaza has been attacked last night in Egypt, and is experiencing further delays. Please take action now!

Press Release 6th January

Egyptian Police attack Humanitarian Gaza Aid Convoy

Last night Egyptian police again delayed the Viva Palestina aid convoy carrying much needed aid from reaching the people of Gaza. Having agreed to Egyptian demands whilst being stranded in the port of Aqaba some seven days ago, convoy leaders agreed to re-route their journey after receiving guarantees from the Egyptian authorities of a safe passage to Gaza

Humanitarians from all over the world transporting the aid were attacked by riot police in the port of Al Arish last night (5th January). And it is now reported that some of the activists were hospitalised overnight for their injuries. They have since returned back to re-join the convoy members in the port and thankfully have no life threatening issues.

British and national embassies are being kept informed of the situation.

Protests broke out when Egyptian authorities at Al - Arish ordered some lorries to use an Israeli-controlled checkpoint. The activists preferred the goods to be transported via Egypt’s Rafah crossing as agreed.

George Galloway who is leading the convoy said Israel is likely to prevent it entering Gaza - This morning he told Sky News. "It is completely unconscionable that 25% of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza."

Following Israel’s horrific attack on Gaza, people all over Britain worked for months raising funds for aid and aid vehicles for the Palestinian people. Those taking the aid are humanitarians from all walks of life, who have given up a month to bring the much needed medical aid in a gesture of solidarity with their continuing oppression under Israel’s illegal siege.

Betty Hunter, General Secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said, “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.”

Viva Palestina ’The Return to Gaza’ is partnered with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and departed London on 6th December bound for Gaza.

See a sample letter here: http://www.vivapalestina.org/alerts/concern_050109.htm

Egyptian Embassy in Dublin: +353-1-6606718 / +353-1-6606566 / consular@embegyptireland.ie

The contact details for the Egyptian Embassy in London: 0044-20-7499-3304 / eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg (Consulate: consulate.london@mfa.gov.eg )

Your local MP: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

David Miliband (Foreign Secretary) MSU.PublicIn@fco.x.gsi.gov.uk / msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk / milibandd@parliament.uk - 020 7008 1500

British Embassy in Egypt Tel: +(20)(2)27916000 information.cairo@fco.gov.uk

More contacts: http://readingpsc.org.uk/convoy/media/

Please email/phone/fax the Egyptian Embassy (copy this to your MP and Foreign Secretary, David Miliband).

Contact the media: Please phone and email the BBC, and other media, to ask for coverage of the Convoy’s progress to Gaza.

Please ask your MP to sign EDM 536 in the name of Richard Burden

Please organize local meetings on Gaza. PSC and Viva Palestina can provide speakers –contact the PSC office to arrange for a speaker.

More news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8442758.stm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVwGnqHwk7U

http://www.aztlan.net/egyptian_police_attacks_viva_palestina.htm

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/01/2010162111115725.html

Financial support: Support the financial appeal on Viva Palestina website as the additional costs incurred because of the obstacles created by the Egyptian government are astronomical.

http://www.vivapalestina.org/emergency.htm