Noam Chomsky and Gerry Adams show support for Gaza flotilla CLICK HERE

Click here for details of the new convoy to Gaza, leaving September 18th 2010

The terrible massacre aboard the Mavi Marmara on 31 May has brought a sea change in international opinion against the inhumane siege on the people of Gaza.

Far from deterring people from seeking to bring the siege to an end, the Israeli assault on the Freedom Flotilla is spurring on even more people to bring humanitarian aid to the besieged 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and to end the blockade.

Recently, Israel announced that they would " Ease " the siege on Gaza, however, many essential items are still banned. Among the goods still banned is all construction materials, farming supplies, certain medical supplies, and motor vehicles and spare parts.

Last weekend, Chris Patten and Catherine Ashton visited Gaza as part of a EU delegation to the region. Both Chris and Catherine slammed the partial easing of the siege, and called for the siege to be lifted immediatley, and for all the borders to open up as a matter of urgency. Chris stated that many of the health problems suffered by residents of the sector were caused by the embargo, which prohibits the entry of medical supplies and prevents patients with certain conditions from travelling to receive medical treatment

Viva Palestina, a registered charity founded by George Galloway, has organised three massive land convoys to Gaza in the last 18 months, bringing over 1,000 people and 500 vehicles loaded with vital humanitarian aid.

Following extensive planning, another land convoy will depart London on September 18th and set off for Gaza once again. The convoy will travel through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. It will attempt to reach Gaza through the Rafah border in early October.

Viva Palestina will lead the  "Global Lifeline To Gaza" from London, working in partnership with the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza,  and organisations from Europe, North and South America, Turkey, The Middle East, Australasia, India, and South Africa.

Dear Friends of Palestine

Viva Palestina founder George Galloway, speaking to a crowd of around 20,000 protesting outside the Israeli Embassy in London (on Saturday 5th June) revealed the latest plan to bring about the end of the siege on Gaza.

Two simultaneous convoys - one by land the other by sea - will set forth on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12th bound for Gaza. Viva Palestina, the International Committee to break the Siege on Gaza and any allies who will join us will organise the two convoys.

The land convoy will leave from London and travel across Europe to Turkey Syria and ultimately through the Rafah Gate into Gaza. Co-operation will be offered and sought with all relevant governments and agencies.

It is expected the convoy will pick up vehicles and volunteers in each country through which it passes. The target is to enter Gaza with 500 vehicles.

The sea convoy will travel around the Mediterranean gathering ships, cargo, volunteers from each country. The target is to enter Gaza with sixty ships.

The aim will be to arrive on Gaza's frontiers at the same time. And to enter with the world's largest ever aid convoys. And to thereby render the siege null and void.

For further information on how to join the 'Viva Palestina' September Gaza aid convoy by land and by sea, sign up to receive emails through the Viva Palestina website CLICK HERE and through our sister website Viva Palestina Arabia

Manchester march to remember the fallen heroes of ther Mavi Marmara

London meeting hears testimony from Mavi Marmara survivors.

Al-Jazeera journalist Jamal Elshayya describes events on the morning of 31st May 2010.

 

For other heroes of the flotilla visit Ady Cousins Youtube site here.

Viva Palestina founder George Galloway at the end of the meeting outlines future solidarity actions.

Summer University of Palestine.

Alice Howard from Viva Palestina Arabia provides details on the up coming Summer School in Lebanon.

www.vivapalestinaarabia.org 

The heroes of the Flotilla are set to attend the Summer University of Palestine in Lebanon this July 25th  - Bülent Yildirim leader of  NGO I. H. H  ( Insan Hak ve Hürriyetleri ve Insani Yardim Vakfi)  and other leaders of the Flotilla will be hosting a special session on the massacre on the 'Mavi Marmara' and lessons for the future.

Our other key speakers include: George Galloway, Ghada Karmi, Norman Finkelstein, Abdul Rahim Mourad, Dr Ali Fayad, Ziad Hafez, Reem Nimer, Vangelis Pissias, Dr Daud Abdullah, Ma'an Bashour, Yvonne Ridley, Ramzy Baroud, Gabi Baramki, and Dr Azzam Tamimi who will all provide lectures on Past, Present and the Future of Palestine. 

Galloway announces new land and sea convoys to break the siege of Gaza
 

Speech by Kevin Ovenden

For more video CLICK HERE

Eyewitness Kevin Ovenden from the Freedom Flotilla: 'I saw people shot'

Kevin Ovenden, a representative of Viva Palestina , was on the main ship of the Freedom Flotilla when Israeli soldiers descended onto the deck – he spoke from Turkey to Siân Ruddick

“We knew the Israelis were going to attack, or intercept us in some way. At 11pm we had the first contact. A visual warning was that two Israeli warships were approaching us, followed by a third.

“We were 90 miles north of the Israeli coast, and 22 miles away from the buffer zone that Israel has set from its shores.

READ MORE HERE

The real story from Mavi Marmara: They were shooting to kill

from the Morning Star
The Israeli massacre of unarmed campaigners aboard a ship carrying aid to Gaza is the "Sharpeville and Soweto of the Movement for Palestinian Solidarity," one of those who survived the bloodthirsty assault has said.

Speaking to the Star from Istanbul shortly after his release from an Israeli jail British campaigner Kevin Ovenden, who was aboard the Mavi Marmara - the boat that bore the brunt of a terrifying raid by gun-toting Israeli commandos - described the attack as a "murderous assault" and "an act of political terrorism."

Sarah Colborne from Palestine Solidarity Campaign gives eyewitness account of Mavi Marmara massacre

"The last 72 hours have been the most harrowing in my life. Even for an experienced campaigner like myself, nothing prepared me for the barbaric onslaught by the Israeli Army on a boat of unarmed peace activists with a cargo of humanitarian aid.

"There are images from Monday's bloody attack that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

"Yet for all the horrors of the last few days, for all the deaths and injuries, there is one thing that helped me through - knowing that back here in London PSC would be vociferously campaigning on behalf of all the hostages illegally held by the Israeli's.

"I will be writing tomorrow at greater length about my experiences, but I wanted every PSC member and supporter to know that your outstanding campaign over the last week is appreciated and I hope to see as many of you as can make it to the demo in central London on Saturday."

Sarah Colborne

Kevin Ovenden speaks out in Istanbul

3rd June 2010

"The massacre on the Mavi Marmara must be a turning point. Passengers from 32 countries were murderously attacked by the israeli forces.

"This is the Sharpeville and the Soweto of the movement for palestinian solidarity.

"People of those countries around the world must now tell their governments that we are not prepared to continue to allow Israel to flout international law. The inhuman siege of Gaza must end now!

"The Israeli government has used terror for political ends. But we are not afraid.

"We who survived the Mavi Marmara massacre will redouble our efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine and end this siege!"

Download a flyer in pdf format here

Viva Palestina founder George Galloway released the following statement on 31st May 2010 in response to the Mavi Marmara massacre:

"Israel has massacred unarmed peace activists aboard a flotilla taking emergency aid to the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza. This is a watershed that will change the perception of the world, as Sharpeville and Soweto did to the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

"It unmasks Israel which no-one can now consider a member of the 'international community' but is rather a rogue state, a pariah state.

"The embargo and blockade of Gaza must be brought to an end. This has been underwritten by the United States, by Britain and the European Union, but this has got to end now."

Manchester marches in solidarity with Flotilla heroes

London demonstration against Mavi Marmara massacre

More video of the London protest speeches can be found here: Thank you to Counterfire

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: ISRAELI TROOPS STORM GAZA FLOTILLA AND KILL 9: DEMONSTRATE TODAY

Members of the Israeli Navy commandeered the largest ship of the Gaza Flotilla and in the process kill a reported 19 activists. On board the ship are international human rights activists from a number of countries including 28 from the UK.  

News reports can be found on the BBC Sky NEWS, PRESS TV, The Guardian, Al Jazeera

What can you do:

1) Protest against Israel's actions, to support the flotilla and to demand action from our government
11.00am, The Foreign Office, Whitehall, London.
2,00pm Downing Street, London.
5.00pm, BBC Oxford Road, Manchester

READ MORE HERE

GAZA AID FLOTILLA ATTACKED, 9 KILLED

Israeli forces have attacked the international aid convoy Freedom Flotilla en route to the besieged Gaza Strip, killing a a reported 9 people and leaving more than 50 injured.

The attack came on Monday morning, 31st May, after one of the six ships in the convoy was hit by Israeli navy forces before being stormed by commandos descending from helicopters.

The interception reportedly took place in international waters, more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza.

George Galloway speaks out in outrage from Houston, Texas at 05.18am 

KEVIN OVENDEN REPORT'S LIVE FROM THE GAZA FLOTILLA!

At  22:41pm tonight May 30th, preparations aboard the Mavi Marmara are extensive. We are 90 miles away from land - 22 miles further than the Israeli decided 68 mile exclusion zone - but are being approached by an Israeli vessel. Triage is set up and various strategies implemented to resist seizure.

The Israeli media is reporting that Israel will deploy a very large naval force. Far from minimising violence, this is an illegal aggressive move which will make it more likely. We are broadcasting live from the ship. Calm and organisation overcome the fear that Israel is trying to instill.

Viva Palestina and all aboard are prepared. We are calling on everyone to contact various political leaders to ask them to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of these brave people, and to stand up and add their voice in support of this humanitarian flotilla.

Full details of how they can contact these political figures can be found through following link: CLICK HERE

There you will find email addresses, and template letters to use. Full instructions are provided, and we ask that you follow these and show your support for everyone involved.

This is a very serious situation, and we are calling on everyone to play their part in helping ensure their safety, and that the aid reaches Gaza without difficulty.

George Galloway salutes Freedom Flotilla!

30th May 2010
George Galloway founder of the worldwide Viva Palestina movement and leader of three land convoys which broke the siege on Gaza today hailed the heroic sea-borne aid effort steaming towards Gaza.

Speaking from Miami Florida, where he is in the middle of a twelve city speaking tour of the US on Palestine, Galloway hailed the Turkish humanitarian organisation IHH which has organised and leads the flotilla as "heroes" who are facing the hardships of the seas and the threats of violence from Gaza's besiegers the Apartheid state of Israel.

Galloway called on all people and governments of goodwill to insist on safe passage for the hundreds of humanitarians on board the ships and the unmolested delivery of the vital aid supplies on board.

Promising on behalf of Viva Palestina Arabia a second sea convoy later in the year - again in partnership with IHH - Galloway thanked the government of Turkey and its incomparable prime minister Erdogan for showing the world the way to peacefully confront the international crime being committed against the people of Palestine.

News from the flotilla

30th May 2010
We are awaiting the arrival of the European parliamentarians, who are being shuttled from Northern Cyprus to our staging ground in international waters to the south of the island where they will board the lead ship. The decision by the Greek Cypriot government not only not to allow the flotilla to harbour there, but also to object to, and twice prevent, the departure of a parliamentary delegation directly by sea to join the convoy is creating something of a scandal in Greece and beyond.

Cyprus recently elected its first ever Communist President, earning him the moniker the Fidel Castro of the Mediterranean. If this recent shabby episode is anything to go by, Akel, the Cypriot Communist Party, would be better served by its previous policy of supporting a left of centre figure for the highest office. The last such president allowed friends of Palestine to muster there.

Five vessels are ready to go - three cargos and two passenger, three Turkish and two that sailed from Athens - one Greek and one Greek- Swedish. The are larger boats and the clear lesson is that for such an operation a few larger and well fitted vessels are more effective than a larger number of smaller boats.

A coalition of organisations and initiatives has come together in this flotilla, but the Turkish IHH has set the standard by raising around 20 million USD and setting about the mission with élan, peerless organisation and a collegiate approach that belies the  extent to which they are responsible for the impressive force that is gathered now in the Eastern Mediterranean.

To my mind, the lessons are worth learning now, for whatever the outcome of the next 48 hours, there will be another sea mission to Gaza - and it will need to be even bigger and broader.

Kevin Ovenden
Viva Palestina

Kevin Ovenden reports for Viva Palestina from the Freedom Flotilla

29th May 2010

I finally have access to some intermitant internet connection

At 17.30 this evening the European Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza arrived at the staging point south of Cyprus, joining the Greek cargo ship and the three Turkish vessels in international waters. We are now waiting the arrival of five European parliamentarians from Cyrpus, who have had to travel from the Greek south to the Turkish north in order to board a vessel to join us. It is an embarrassing episode for the Greek Cyriot government of President Christofias. Cyrpus had previously been accommodating of efforts to break the siege on Gaza, but not this time.

The level of support for the international flotilla is growing by the day. There are now expressions of either support for allowing the ships in or calling for Israel to be restrained in its actions from Norway, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Italy, Russia and from the EU foregin affairs chief Cathy Ashton. At the same time, Israel has remained bellicose and truculent in its responses.

The atmosphere on board the lead passenger vessel, the Mavri Marmara, is calm and determined - thanks in large part to the drive and discipline of the Turkish delegation led by the indomitable IHH.

The Viva Palestina delegation, drawing on our experience of the three land convoys, is contributing to maintaining the resolve, which is hardening, despite the loss of two European vessels which have had to break off from joining the flotilla due to mechanical problems.

It is clear to us that Israel has already lost in this confontation, which is entirely of its own making. First, the flotilla is generating unprecedented publicity, and it is overwhelmingly critical of Israel's stance. I was interviewed on Fox News, for example, and even the interviewer seemed to run through the moderately hostile questions as a matter of course rather than with any conviction. Second, it has openly declared that it is prepared to use physical force agaisnt a peaceful, humanitarian mission. Despite efforts by hostile media to claim that this is merely a propaganda or political mission, the message that this flotilla is bringing vital humanitarian aid is getting through. The political dimension is a result purely of the illegal and immoral siege imposed on the people of Gaza. It is Israel and governments which support the embargo which have made concrete, glass, educational supplies and medicines and incendiary political issue.

As with every confrontation Israel has engaged in over the last few years it is drawing down its already reduced political stock. So, the threats to sieze the ships and intern 600 people in the Israeli port of Ashdod are having the effect neither of intimidating people onboard nor of generating awe elsewhere. Perhaps among some people they may create fear. But creating fear is never the way to being loved. In fact, the bellicosity coming from Israel is more likely to lead some of those who continue to support it to fall out of love with it.

We await the shuttle boat from Cyprus and setting course for Gaza tomorrow.

Kevin Ovenden
Viva Palestina, on board the Mavri Marmara

28th May 2010
Sailing into the siege
“People are very aware that the Israeli authorities and indeed others are playing all sorts of mind games, with threats alternating with so called offers, which would include surrendering the aid into Israeli hands, something which the participants of the flotilla find entirely unacceptable”

Speaking from the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, Kevin Ovenden from Viva Palestina outlined some of the concerns and realities currently been faced by over 750 people on board the 9 ships sailing towards Gaza.

The last of the ships departed from Turkey at midnight last night, and they are all currently in International waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Their journey is faced with incredible danger, given the threats that have been issued by the Israeli Government. They have stated that they will stop this Flotilla at all costs, even by force if necessary. Their safety is in grave danger, and the time has come for the international community to stand up for their safety and well being.

Tomorrow, Saturday, the flotilla should be sailing into Gaza, however, given the threats issued, the likely hood of this happening is looking uncertain at this stage. We are calling on everyone to contact various political leaders to ask them to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of these brave people, and to stand up and add their voice in support of this humanitarian flotilla.

Full details of how they can contact these political figures can be found through following link: CLICK HERE

There you will find e mail addresses, and template letters to use. Full instructions are provided, and we ask that you follow these and show your support for everyone involved.

This is a very serious situation, and we are calling on everyone to play their part in helping ensure their safety, and that the aid reaches Gaza without difficulty.

Click below to listen to Kevin's full appeal speaking from the flotilla ship Mavi Marmara.

Press TV report

Noam Chomsky and Gerry Adams show support for Gaza flotilla CLICK HERE

On the 25th July the first session of the annual 'Summer University of Palestine' is due to begin in Lebanon. This event is organised by the registered Lebanese charity Viva Palestina Arabia and will focus on Palestine.

The week long intensive course will cover 'Past, Present and Future Palestine' on the history, geography and politics of the region. A-list renowned world-class speakers such as: George Galloway, Ghada Karmi,  Norman Finkelstein,  Abdul Rahim Mourad, Dr Ali Fayad, Ziad Hafez, Reem Nimer, Vangelis Pissias, Dr Daud Abdullah ,Ma'un Bashour, Yvonne Ridley,Ramzy Baroud,Gabi Baramki, and Dr Azzam Tamimi amongst other leading speakers will be there! Will you?

In addition to this residential educational event there will be visits to Palestinian refugee camps and we will also take you to view Baalbek, city of the sun and Fatima's gate. This unforgettable experience is priced at $850 USD for 7 days/6 nights. This includes accommodation at the magnificent Lebanese International University, transfers, excursions, a full university syllabus and meals on the campus.

You will also receive the official Viva Palestina Arabia T-shirt designed by Philosophy Football . Spaces are limited! Register here to secure your place www.vivapalestinaarabia.org  -  

Help us raise awareness of the siege of Gaza and also buy humanitarian aid to rebuild lives. Make a donation here: http://www.vivapalestinaarabia.org/en/donate

Viva Palestina Arabia is here - click below

Return to Gaza
The historic and international aid convoy, Viva Palestina, travels over 3000 km in an effort to break the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. This documentary follows the members of the convoy and their 3rd and largest humanitarian mission by land, with over 200 vehicles loaded with aid. Ignored by mainstream media, the convoy sets off its journey from London to Gaza via Europe. They then face many obstacles in the last days of the journey traveling through Egypt.
Coming soon in April 2010 - by Dane Vincent Smith.

Watch the trailer below

Viva Palestina Convoy Celebration Day

Tuesday 23 February 2010 - 7pm - 9pm
A Public Event in honour of Viva Palestina Convoy to Gaza

The Program will include:
- Keynote speech by George Galloway MP
- A pictorial slideshow and presentation of the Viva Palestina convoy and the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza
- An award ceremony to the representatives of the Viva Palestina Convoy.

Venue: The Conway Hall 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London, WC1R 4RL

Nearest tube station is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines) approx 3 min walk. Also within reasonable walking distance are Chancery Lane and Russell Square.

Organisers : 

Palestinian Forum of Britain (PFB)
Muslim Association of Britain (MAB)
Islamic Unity Forum (IUF)
Supporting Organisations :
British Muslim Initiative (BMI) , Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) , Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) , Stop The War Coalition (STW) , Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) , Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS)

ALL WELCOME

Convoy members - request for your impressions

As part of the Viva Palestina Convoy Celebration Day on the 23rd of February an independent production team is putting together a short film which includes convoy members talking about their 'impressions' of the convoy and a montage of photographs taken by those on the convoy.

MORE INFO HERE

Sustaining Palestine with Aid and Fair Trade
With Speakers from 'Zaytoun' and 'Viva Palestina - Friends in Slough'

Tuesday, February 23, 7:15pm - 9:30pm
Kingsway United Reformed Church, Church Street (behind High Street), Slough,

Returning from the recent successful Viva Palestina Convoy the volunteers from Slough will be joined by a Palestinian olive grower as part of fair trade fortnight to talk about the situation in Gaza and about the ways Palestine can by sustained by fair trade as well as aid.

'Fair Trade' products will be on sale including Palestinian Olives and Dates from 'Zaytoun'

Free entry - All welcome

News Update - 5th February 2010

Dear friend,

Events have been moving fast since the convoy's return from Gaza. In addition to the good news that the two convoy members who stayed behind in Gaza are now safely back following intensive efforts to secure their return, here are a couple of further updates.

Viva Palestina US held two very successful meetings in New York and in Boston last weekend, raising around $60,000. In addition, the American Friends of Palestine held a fundraising in New Jersey which raised over $100,000. It is particularly signficant that despite attempts in the US to whip up hostility against solidarity with the Palestinians and against Viva Palestina, on account of its high profile, that these events were packed out. There was great enthusiasm for two upcoming initiatives.

Viva Palestina on the High Seas

1) Viva Palestina will be taking part in a mission to send a flotilla of boats to Gaza to seek to break the blockade by sea. The timing of this is in the process of being locked down and we are working very closely with the Turkish organisation IHH, which is taking the lead on organising logistics. All the signs are that there is enormous support in Britain and internationlly for this venture. Further details will follow very shortly and VP is committed to a major fundraising effort to bring a significant component to the IHH-led effort.

Summer University of Palestine

2) Negotiations are at a closing stage in Lebanon on the details of a Summer University of Palestine to take place in late July/early August. Again, we will be in a position to announce the final details very shortly.

Convoy Reports

A large number of report back meetings have either happened or are planned, and there is already a huge awareness of what the convoy achieved. A tour of colleges is also organised so that students can hear about the conovy and about conditions facing students in Gaza. Other meetings and events are also taking place.

There will be a large meeting in Batley, West Yorkshire, at the end of this month, for example, thanks to the Indian Muslim Welfare Association, which was extremely supportive of the convoy and all our efforts. In addition, a lot of people have taken the time to write their throughts about the whole experience down and to email us.

Again, there is an overwhelmingly positive feeling.

Please do send in your thoughts and suggestions so that we can incorporate them into planning for the future. We are in the process of securing acknowledgements and thank yous from those who received the aid we delivered and we'll make these available as we have them. We hope to be able to put out a comprehensive update on future events soon.

In the meantime, one measure of the success of the convoy and the mushrooming support for Viva Palestina - which is expanding internationally (watch this space!) - is various attempts by those who support the siege to spread disinformation and downright lies about the convoy and their unsuccessful attempts to pressure public authorities in the US and Britain to take these spurious allegations seriously.

We won't be intimidated by such underhand tricks and attempts to divide the movement we are building. Our answer is to press on, undeterred, and to build on the success of the last three convoys, all of which have broken the siege.

Best wishes,

Kevin Ovenden Viva Palestina

Vehicles left in Egypt by convoy taken to Syria by IHH

The 43 vehicles that Egypt had not allowed to be taken into Gaza along with the rest of the Viva Palestina convoy have been shipped to Syria by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. They will then be donated to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon.

The vehicles were left at Arish port, as agreed with Egyptian authorities, to defuse a crisis over the vehicles. Egypt had blocked their entry into Gaza through its territory without providing any reasonable explanation. The other 153 vehicles were successfully taken to Gaza. 

The 43 vehicles were loaded onto ships by IHH officials to be taken to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon. The IHH, which managed to break the embargo as joint sponsors of the convoy, has launched preparations for another convoy. The foundation is planning to reach Gaza directly via sea in March 2010. Aid materials will be delivered to Gaza in five ships. Ppeople can donate vehicles, medical equipment and cash to be taken to Gaza alongside the planned marine convoy.  Viva Palestina will be joining the IHH every nautical mile of the way.

Congratulations
Some of the messages of support we have recieved from around the world
CLICK HERE

Protests outside Egyptian embassy in Kuala Lumpur

From Ireland to Gaza
John Hurson reports CLICK HERE

A message from Kevin Ovenden - Viva Palestina convoy leader

"The level of support internationally for this mission has been tremendous. We`ve been understandably in a bit of a bubble - especially when we were barricaded in at the port of Al Arish. But we´ve got some sense of the scale of solidarity events and of media coverage.

"The sight of people lining the streets virtually the full length of the Gaza Strip, after waiting for 10 hours for our last vehicles to pass (thanks to further Egyptian delays) was the only vindication of that this initiative ever required.

"This was an incredibly diverse group of 518 people. Now we aim to build on that across the UK and internationally.

"Thanks to everyone who responded to the calls to action from the VP office. There are thousands of emails to respond to and we will do as soon as we can. We are now working on further plans for coordinated initiatives over the next 12 months, which will be announced shortly. "

A Poem for the Viva Palestina convoy

Dedicated to all those who took part in the convoy and those who supported it around the world.
CLICK HERE

Filistin Konvoyu'na görkemli karsilama

Congratulations
Some of the messages of support we have recieved from around the world
CLICK HERE

11.00am GMT: Thursday 7th January
The Viva Palestina convoy have now handed their aid over to the Central Council of Charities - a non-governmental body of civic societies - at a ceremony in Gaza City. Convoy volunteers will now be visiting hospitals and other places where their aid will be put to use, as well as taking a tour of the devastated areas of Gaza.

Bülent Yildirim, president of the I.H.H- Insan Hak ve Hürriyetleri Insani Yardim Vakfi

In interview with Press TV George Galloway promises that in future, "You'll see Viva Palestina coming from all corners of the world."

"We are all emotional to see that all of Gaza are out to greet us! Our Viva Palestina convoy is symbolic!  It shows the Palestianian people just how much the people of the West do care. 
" We come in peace to deliver humanitarian aid and we hope that our convoy (and convoy's like ours) will help to build pressure on the Israeli government to break the siege."
Kevin Ovenden, convoy leader

Al-Jazerra reports below
 

Press TV reports below

Short but oh so sweet! - Headlines from Al-Jazeera

“It is shocking that the Egyptian government is behaving in this way.  There can be no justification for preventing this aid and the people who have worked so hard to provide it from reaching Gaza .  The Palestinians are waiting for this well publicised international convoy to arrive and these actions of the Egyptian government, and the building of Egypt's  steel wall signal that Egypt is colluding with the Israeli government's illegal siege of Gaza.”
Betty Hunter, General Secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Press TV analysis ands interview with Betty Hunter below

Part Two here

Latest Radio Islam Interview with Kevin Ovenden
CLICK HERE

Press TV - 11.00 GMT

Viva Palestina: More Than 10 Injured, Seven Arrested

EL-ARISH PORT, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- More than 10 members of the Viva Palestina convoy were injured, four of them seriously, and seven members arrested by Egyptian police during a protest here Tuesday at 11.40pm local time.

Among those arrested was a Malaysian, Ibrahim Mohd Azmi, a University of Bristol medical student who was a convoy volunteer.

The protest was staged by Viva Palestina convoy members to protest against the decision by the Eqyptian government to bar 59 convoy vehicles from leaving here for Gaza.

READ MORE HERE

GAZA ACTIVISTS IN EGYPT PASSPORT PROTEST 

SKY NEWS REPORT HERE
Turkish TV Report HERE
Press TV Report below

Crisis in Egypt

Viva Palestina faced with 2,000 riot police in the port of Al-Arish!

To all friends of Palestine,

Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish.

This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.

He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port.

We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.

The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.

We are now calling upon all friends of palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy's and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!

Kevin Ovenden Viva Palestina Convoy Leader

Contact details including email addresses and phone numbers of Egyptian Embassies and consulates can be found here

Click here to read an example of one email sent this evening - feel free to use/amend, etc.

Up to the minute reports from the convoy can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Images from Al-Arish

14.00 GMT: Convoy vehicles begin to leave port at Al-Arish

Convoy Update
Tuesday 5th January 12.00am GMT

VIVA PALESTINA WIN AIRPORT BATTLE!

My last message to all of you was that the Viva Palestina convoy members have arrived into Al-Arish and were just hours away from breaking the siege of Gaza.

Now, I report to you that in the  past hour 157 Viva Palestina convoy members passports were taken away at Al-Arish airport by the Egyptian authorities. 

READ MORE HERE

Gaza activists in passport protest

Read Eric Ruder "Viva Palestina mission to Gaza"
CLICK HERE

Read Press Association story here

Please Support our Emergency Appeal

So we are asking our friends and supporters to dig deep in their pockets and make an emergency donation towards the costs now facing the convoy including chartering the ULUSOY-6 to tansport the vehicles and four or five flights to move the convoy members.

With your help we will once more deliver aid to the people of Gaza - and once more demand the end to this inhuman siege.

Thanks you for your support and may we wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Viva Palestina and friends

PLEASE MAKE A DONATION HERE

Thank you to the many supporters from more than twenty countries who have already donated online. Your generosity and support is wonderful.

READ MORE ON OUR ARCHIVE PAGE

IHH Report on the Mavi Marmara massacre (8Mb)

New VP Enamel Badge

T-Shirt and CD special offer. CLICK HERE

Official Viva Palestina T-shirt

THEY STOLE OUR LAND SOLIDARITY T-SHIRT
CLICK HERE