Local Rally in Support of Viva Palestina!

About twenty local activists gathered in front of the Federal Building on January 6, 2010 in support of Viva Palestina! The Viva Palestina convoy numbers 500 and includes local student and film maker Adriano Contreras. It started in London, England in December. Led by Member of Parliament George Galloway, the delegation traveled through Europe to Egypt, where they intended to cross into Gaza on or around Christmas. The convoy consists of ambulances, trucks, buses and cars full of medical supplies and people. Galloway led a similar group to Gaza last summer, which was allowed to stay for 24 hours in the besieged territory. Viva Palestina is not affiliated with the Gaza Freedom March, led by the American group Code Pink. Both groups however share the common goal of a free Gaza.

Tom Middleton, another Viva Palestina member, was at the rally. He had hoped to travel with the convoy to Gaza on Christmas but had to return home early. “Actually, I returned on time,” says Middleton. The group was relentlessly delayed by the Egyptian government. “They wanted us to negotiate with Israel.” “They wanted us to turn our vehicles and medical supplies over to a third party who is notorious for not delivering.” But the group persevered and with help from the governments of Greece, Turkey and others, the convoy was allowed to cross into Gaza earlier in the day. That came as a surprise. Just yesterday, the delegation was confronted by 2,000 Egyptian riot police. Fifty-five people were injured, some requiring hospitalization. The rally, which was intended to pressure the Egyptian government to allow the convoy to cross, became a sort of a celebration.

All is still not well in Gaza. This is only the third such humanitarian aid allowed to cross since the siege began on December 27, 2008. The Israeli government is constructing underground barriers to close the tunnels that bring the only supplies into the blockaded area the size of Manhattan.
Brian Lenzo, who traveled to Gaza as a member of last summer's Viva Palestina delegation, describes the conduct of the Egyptian government as reprehensible. “Egypt is an Arab country. The Palestinians are Arabs.” Their behavior has revealed their complacency with the Empire. The border between Egypt and Gaza at Rafah is only open occasionally, for a short period of time. It needs to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The American government must pressure Egypt to open the border. We also demand that the Egypt apologize for its attacks on the convoy.

More information can be found on Adriano's blog:
http://www.thesitch.com/