“Our crew physically ok, sounded shaken. Started
whn Egypt said big vehicles & trucks had to b given to ISRAEL!
Galloway said no. Eg negotiator walked out. 5 mins later riot police
turned up. Trouble seemed 2 start wn plain clothed Egypt police in
compound started stirring things Thn riot police came in Mike &
others vouch …for this.
Galloway made a speech and calmed things down. Now everything is
quiet. Team have been using bandages etc from ambulance…. saw the
person stretchered off but doesn’t know more about this…. there is a
mosque in the port and that is where people are being treated” – @YorktoGaza

news from Mahathir’s niece. “All hell has broken lose at the port. Shit flying around and police spraying and gassing. We’re in the gates. Instigators
started moving in from within the police lines and moved on the inside
of the police side of the barricades. Convoy mbers were Sitting on the ground when shouts from polic…e lines started and then wham, hell. Just helped bandage a friend’s head. Some people are missing including a Msian student who came on his own from the UK. We are trying to find him. He may be arrested. For Gaza siege.
We have bend over backwards to come to Elarish cause EGY said we’d be
welcomed here, instead welcomed with violence” @juanajaafar

PRESS RELEASE

VIVA PALESTINA MALAYSIA

APPEALS TO THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW

VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY INTO GAZA

On 28^th December 2009 , Viva Palestina Malaysia handed over a letter of appeal to the Egyptian Ambassador, asking for safe, easy and quick passage of all vehicles in the Viva Palestina convoy through Egypt into Gaza.

Sunday December 27th marks the anniversary of the attack on Gaza by Israel, which left over 1,400 people dead, and over 5,000 injured in 22 days. At 11 35 am, the time of the first attack, a group of humanitarians on the “Viva Palestina Convoy” embarked on an International Hunger Strike in the main square in Aqaba, Jordan.

The International Hunger Strike will aim to highlight the ongoing illegal siege imposed on Gaza, and to remember the victims of the attacks who died during the 22 day bombardment by Israel.

This International Hunger Strike will also highlight the refusal by Egypt, under Israeli pressure, to allow the humanitarian aid to reach the 1.5 million civilian people in Gaza who continue to be subjected to collective, sustained, and devastating punishment.

The convoy has been stranded in the city for 3 days now, having been refused permission to enter Egypt on their way to Gaza. There are 500 people from no less than 20 different countries in 250 vehicles loaded with charitable humanitarian aid. The convoy is being led by leading international politician George Galloway, having left London on December 6th.

Each day, 15 more people from the convoy will join in the International Hunger Strike, and they will go without food until the convoy is allowed to enter safely into Egypt, and through the Rafah border to Gaza.

For Egypt to prevent this compassionate and charitable aid, donated by ordinary caring people from all over the world, unnecessarily adds to the hardships currently endured on a daily basis, by the besieged and distressed people in Gaza.

The volunteers in the Viva Palestina Convoy are hopeful that the leaders of the West will exert their influence, put pressure on Egypt, the United States, and Israel to end this inhuman blockade forced upon Gaza, and allow for the safe passage of this essential humanitarian aid. Enough is enough, this has to end now, for the sake of humanity.

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For more information please contact:

Azra 016 209 4500

Azian 012 211 5749

Yuzaidi 012 273 4353

Noraini 012 277 1710