Galloway to continue heading Gaza-bound aid convoy despite Egyptian ban
LONDON, (PIC)-- Former British MP George Galloway, while commenting on Egypt’s decision to bar him from entering its territory in the company of the Lifeline 5 convoy, said he is making big efforts globally to break the siege on Gaza, stressing he will continue to head the convoy despite Egypt’s decision.
Lifeline 5 was organized by the British Viva Palestina foundation in partnership with political and charity organizations from more than 25 countries. The convoy departed from London Saturday, Sept. 18, and is scheduled to pass through a number of European countries before reaching Syria from where it would set sail to the Egyptian port of El-Arish en route to Gaza.
The convoy is expected to build up to more than 120 buses of medical and humanitarian supplies in Syria and will carry personalities from Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, Tunisia, and Sudan. The convoy will also include delegations from England and other European states, such as Ireland, France, Sweden, Italy, and Greece, and from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S. other than Malaysia and Indonesia.
Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesman announced earlier that the Egyptian government decided to bar Galloway from entering Gaza through Egypt.
"I affirm that I will continue to lead the convoy, at the same time, I appeal to the Egyptian government to change its stance and allow me and the convoy to reach Gaza", Galloway said in a statement.
Galloway said he has been following Egypt’s instructions from the beginning, and he is ready to provide Egypt all information required to ease the convoy's arrival at the Gaza Strip.
For his part, the Lifeline convoy spokesman Zahir al-Beirawi said the Egyptian decision to ban Galloway from setting foot on Egyptian soil has outraged international participants on the convoy, but it will not derail its progress or affect the movement of pro-Palestinians worldwide.
Egypt’s decision may have a negative effect on the country’s image on the global level, Beirawi added.
The ship arrived Tuesday at the Italian city of Turin and will head out Wednesday to Milan, before heading to Gaza by way of Greece, Turkey, and Syria.
Viva Palestina's international leader George Galloway today responded to the statement by the spokesman of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry that he would not be permitted to enter Egypt. The British parliamentarian is currently leading an international convoy to Gaza which intends entering the besieged Palestinian territory through the Egyptian port of Al Arish. Responding from Paris he said:
" I am currently leading a huge international effort to break the siege on the Gaza Strip, imposed by Israel and its allies to punish the people for how they voted in a free, democratic election. The convoy will travel through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Syria and thence by ship to Al Arish. It will be joined by convoys which set out on the same day from the Gulf and from North Africa. I intend to continue to lead this convoy and I appeal to the Egyptian Government to reconsider the decision announced last night in Cairo. I was not deported from Egypt and I am not "persona non grata" there. No official notification of either has ever been conveyed to me. I have no wish to have a fight with the Egyptian government; my fight is with Israel.
"We have already shown our willingness to co-operate with the Egyptian authorities by re-routing to Latakia in Syria where we will complete all formalities required by Egypt. I am already forbidden to enter Palestine by Israel. If I am now unable to enter through Egypt this amounts to an exile from Palestine, a country I have struggled for these last thirty five years and which is deep in my heart. I ask my friends in Egypt to do all they can to persuade the government to change this decision. Meanwhile I will continue with my responsibilities to get the convoy of desperately needed aid through, and try to break the siege on Gaza. Long live Palestine, free, Arab, dignified."
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
No comments:
Post a Comment