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Viva Palestina convoy can only go to Gaza 'with Israeli co-ordination' says Sinai governor

George Galloway, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday, was met by officials from Egyptian dictator Mubarak's NDP party.

According to the AFP news agency opposition groups have cancelled welcome receptions and meetings for the convoy.This information is in fact based on an old post from Hossam el-Hamalawy at arabist.net.arabawy

Galloway claims the convoy has indeed been working with opposition groups, but this seems unlikely as the convoy has been broken up by Egyptian police and prevented from meeting ordinary people as it travels across Egypt.

So, even if opposition groups did want to organise receptions for the convoy, which apparently they don't, it would have been prevented by the state security forces.

Hossam is in unrepentant mood about the convoy's unfortunate collaboration with the very same people that have been imprisoning and torturing Egyptian activists that have been raising solidarity with Gaza. His blog has this from a Lebanese socialist concerning a statement from Yvonne Ridley. We can only hope she is not speaking for other members of the convoy with the following patronising words: 
“Tonight, El Arich will experience something special when the people of this town will witness at first hand the arrival of the saviours of Gaza.”

This latest from Yvonne Ridley on the Viva Palestina blog…

“Saviours of Gaza”!

What the fuck?

Who are these arrogant people who declare themselves “saviours”.


I think the Yvonne Ridley quote is possibly from Press TV, the Iranian english-language TV service, as there is no such quote on the vivapalestina blog. She hasn't posted on it since 2 March. Press Tv this morning carries a report this morning from El-Arich, 40km from the Rafah crossing. Also features the four people from Manchester and Huddersfield who were deported from Egypt and prevented from taking their vehicles into Gaza. Windows Media Player required.

The governor of Sinai says the convoy will have to cross into gaza in co-ordination with Israel, but this doesn't seem to have applied to others that crossed into Gaza on Saturday: the Glasgow peace convoy and the US codepink4peace group.

Hamas reports that the Glasgow Peace Convoy has already crossed into Gaza at the Rafah crossing:
The British Justice for Gaza convoy was able to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Saturday evening.

Adel Zurub, the information officer of the governmental anti-siege committee and the spokesman for the crossings and borders, said that the convoy which includes seven to nine medium-sized trucks loaded with medicines and medical equipment were allowed into the Palestinian Rafah city on its way to Gaza city, noting that the convoy includes 19 British activists.

Also the CodePink4Peace US Women for Peace organisation composed of sixty women, including award-winning US African-American novelist Alice Walker, also crossed into Gaza on the eve of International Women's Day, which is celebrated around the world today.

The Viva Palestina site says the Libyans who joined the convoy will refuse to go into Gaza through an Israeli-controlled crossing:
Press TV reports that leaders of the convoy including George Galloway and deputy leader Talat Ali and Nazir are in intense negotiations with the Egyptians. Reports coming to us suggest that they expect every vehicle to be allowed to cross today.

However, Yvonne Ridley reports on Press TV that there are rumours that there is an attempt to move some of the convoy to Israeli controlled crossings. Members of the convoy are united in their determination to cross at the Rafah border crossing. The Libyan contingent, which comprises 100 trucks, is adamant that under NO circumstances they will cross through an Israeli controlled crossing.

Not clear from the Viva Palestina report whether the rest of the convoy is taking the same stand.

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