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Success in the US!
The Viva Palestina USA convoy achieved a remarkable success in our effort to take medical, humanitarian supplies into the besieged Gaza strip in the first few weeks of July, defying significant obstacles at every turn in the journey.
Nearly two hundred people, almost all US citizens, passed through the Rafah crossing into Gaza on July 15th, 2009, carrying with them a quarter of a million dollars worth of medical aid and supplies. The delegation reflected the great diversity of US society. We were Arab-American, African-American, Latino-American, Asian-American and Anglo-American; Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and non-religious; lawyers, doctors, teachers, activists, writers, religious leaders, politicians, musicians, students and workers. All in all, we were a spectacular site to the hundreds we met during our journey.
It was the largest aid mission, both in terms of people and aid, to ever leave the US for Gaza. We were delighted to be joined by Cynthia McKinney, the former US Congresswoman and Presidential candidate, who arrived hot-foot after her unjust detention on the high seas by Israeli forces and entered Gaza for the first time. Also with us was New York Council Member, Charles Barron, who took on many leadership roles within the convoy and who won the hearts and the support of every member on the convoy. Their participation signaled a re-forging of the alliance between Black-American figures and the Palestinian solidarity movement as seen more than 30 years ago as the Black-American leadership of the monumental Civil Rights Movement empathized with the struggle of the displaced, impoverished and rights-stripped Palestinians half-a-world away.
Even with these endearing qualities, the Viva Palestina USA convoy faced great bureaucratic obstacles which resulted in, most significantly, 1) an original three-day stay in Gaza being cut to a mere 24 hour visit and 2) 47 new vehicles dedicated for medical use being prevented from crossing from Egypt into Gaza. The severely shortened visit was accommodated by our welcoming committee in Gaza who did a phenomenal job utilizing every moment of time spent there to accomplish the visit as originally planned. The vehicles remain safely in a “customs free” zone in the Port of Alexandria, where they will be kept until further negotiations determine how we will be able to transport them to the waiting medics in Gaza.
As was the sentiment following the British convoy which departed from the UK and drove across Northern Africa and into Gaza in February and March of this year, there is already a great desire in the United States to repeat the convoy experience. This we MUST do. This we WILL do. In fact, we are already organizing a “mega-convoy” involving both volunteers from the US and the UK and aid from both nations to deliver humanitarian supplies to our brothers and sisters in Gaza this winter.
Pooling all our efforts
The Viva Palestina leadership in both countries is looking closely at the logistical issues and the difficulties faced by this last Viva Palestina convoy and other missions from other organizations which have attempted to cross into Gaza during this long-standing and brutal siege. It is our hope to anticipate any possible difficulties with the goal of overcoming every one as we move towards Gaza for a second time. In that, Viva Palestina representatives have had a series of extremely productive discussions with similar campaigns and initiatives – ranging from the Free Gaza movement to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Britain – since returning. We have all agreed to an even greater coordination of our efforts.
In addition, the Viva Palestina convoy hoping to leave from Venezuela with the support and attendance of President Hugo Chavez is picking up steam and plans to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza this fall.
Bigger, better, and more effective in December
We have the chance to organize an incredible convoy, far more significant than either the British or the US ones that have taken place thus far. Given the various attempts to restrict or prevent aid to Gaza by sea and land, nothing less than a significant increase in the size and impact of the next convoy will do. We are committed to promoting a bigger build up towards a combined mission in December of US, UK and international efforts. The reasons for and the plans to combine the convoys, emerging from discussions between the British and American convoy coordinators and others, are as follows:
˜ December 27 marks the anniversary of the beginning of the Israeli assault on Gaza. Aiming to enter Gaza then will be part of focusing the world’s attention on the massacres. It is also when people in Gaza have said they wish to have maximum support in remembrance of the tragedy.
˜ The UK convoy was initially planned for sometime in November and the US convoy for shortly thereafter. Combining the two efforts, with additional volunteer support of the international community, will have more impact than two smaller ones. Additionally, the timing of work and school obligations do not allow many to participate before the holiday breaks in December.
˜ Efforts in building both the British and US convoys were remarkable and were done in approximately five and seven weeks, respectively. With the extra months of October and November afforded us, we believe we can far outdo what we’ve done before. We will have extra time to build up the regional structures and organization of the convoy to make the mission both smoother and more effective.
˜ Our outreach teams will be working on, not only dispersing information generally about the convoy, but recruiting key public figures, organizations and endorsements from a wide scope of influence. There is the opportunity to reach out to political and entertainment figures, who will be able to consider attending the convoy with the additional time to plan.
Plan of Action
This noble event will be one that everyone will be talking about! We are excited about the details and want to convey as much information as possible at every step in the planning process. Generally, the plan is as follows:
˜ Volunteers will travel to London by December 5th, 2009. The mission will head off from London on December 6th, driving through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and then into Egypt towards the Rafah border. Vehicles that are donated or purchased prior to the December departure will be used – filled with medical supplies and our inexhaustible volunteers. We hope to arrive at the Rafah Border crossing around December 26th, 2009, and to then spend several days in Gaza before leaving our dear friends and regrouping as a convoy in Cairo for a final event. We anticipate that volunteers will be able to make reservations to fly home from that area on January 2nd, 2010.
˜ Because we anticipate that not all who wish to attend will be able to commit to the month long travel experience, there will be mustering points along the route for pre-registered volunteers to join with us, as will there be donations of vehicles and medical supplies from the local population as we travel through towns, villages and cities who support the Palestinians. The details of the exact route and the arrangements for travel are being discussed fully before being included in our information.
˜ We have begun discussions on organizing major events – rallies, music, cultural and sporting – at strategic points on the route. Events and other identifiable outreach along the way does far more than build the morale of the volunteers – it will 1) create critical momentum to cross the Rafah border and 2) continue to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza for the world to acknowledge, hopefully inspiring action.
The extra time we have to organize and do outreach should ensure a great success. But that will only happen if press forward now, through Ramadan and beyond, to build support. Please join us in this incredible effort! You could organize speaking events and informational sessions, fundraise at your local level, secure donations of medical equipment or vehicles, help us spread the word through your listserv and contact lists, etc….and the list goes on! Also, let us know if you would like to part of the regional and central organizing teams for what promises to be an historic event.
Further information and registration details for the convoy will be released shortly online and via listserv. Please make sure you add your name and email address to our listserv on the website below! We look forward to working with each of you and to entering into Gaza, triumphant and in great solidarity with the valiant people who struggle daily to compose their lives under the siege.
In solidarity,
Viva Palestina USA
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