Hail Viva Palestina!
Those readers who are used
to blogging, Facebook and Twitter may already be familiar with the postings
from the Viva Palestina convoy that is making its way from Britain to
Gaza. The convoy of lorries, minibuses and ambulances, full of medical and
other supplies, is expected to enter Gaza on 27 December (the anniversary of
Israel’s bloody assault). The lead is being taken by the 15 ambulances, each
one named after a medical worker killed, while trying to help people, by the
Israeli bombing and invasion of Gaza. All the vehicles and equipment, as well
as the aid, will be left in Gaza.
Our comrade, Joti Brar, is part of that convoy and
is sending out updates as the journey progresses.
This, the third Viva Palestina convoy, set
off on 5 December and is aiming to not only break the two-and-a-half year siege
and deliver much-needed aid and vehicles into Gaza, but also to highlight the
plight of Gaza’s 1.5 million residents (two thirds of whom are refugees from
earlier wars waged by Israel against them).
To send messages of support, and subscribe for
updates from Comrade Joti Brar’s blog, Twitter account and Facebook group, go
to joti2gaza.org.
The more attention that the convoy has while it
travels, the less likely it is that the Egyptian authorities will try to stop
it entering Gaza; so please do publicise these online resources as far and wide
as possible.
Joti’s messages, sent out between long drives, are
full of praise for the many and varied people who had given money and
equipment, collected and helped service vehicles for the trip, all of whom have
contributed to the hundreds of thousands of pounds needed to pay for “ambulances,
minibuses, vans and lorries, and to fill them with medical and other aid that
is desperately needed in Gaza.”
She also stressed the international nature of the
convoy which had crossed “Europe via France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany,
Austria, Italy and Greece, and arrived in Istanbul, where we were joined by
more drivers and vehicles from Turkey, Malaysia and the US. From here we will
travel to Ankara and east to the border, before crossing into Syria, Jordan,
and then Egypt.”
The message of the 17 December continues “The
war crimes committed by Israel during that attack [a year ago] have been
well documented. What is less talked about is that the siege of Gaza – an
illegal and barbaric act of collective punishment, which is itself a war crime
– started well before that and continues to this day.
“So as well as delivering much-needed medical
aid, the convoy will be bringing a very important message of solidarity to the
people of Gaza. We are coming to show them that they are not forgotten; that
the people of the world will not stand by and let Israel starve them into
submission.
“And we are bringing the same message to the
Israeli Government and all its backers in Britain and the US: that Palestine is
not forgotten, despite the lack of mainstream media coverage; that Palestine
has friends all over the world; that the siege will never succeed in its aims.
“I personally am bringing with me messages of
support and solidarity from friends, colleagues and comrades to let the people
of Palestine know that they have friends among the British people, even while
British corporations, government and media are busy arming Israel and excusing
its war crimes.
“Right now, the biggest potential obstacle to
the success of the convoy is the attitude that the Egyptian authorities might
take towards it. There’s no doubt that the Egyptian people are supportive of
the convoy and the Palestinian cause, but it is equally true that Britain,
Israel and the US will be bringing maximum pressure behind the scenes to
persuade the Government to deny us entry into Gaza.
“To help with this effort, they are also doing
their best to deny us the oxygen of publicity, which is why we’re asking
everyone back home to do what they can to publicize the convoy and its aims far
and wide.
“Leaving western Europe, it became clear to
those who didn’t already know that this mission has the backing of most of the
REAL international community. Not only were people everywhere happy to see us,
but local mayors in Thessaloniki and Istanbul have turned out to greet us,
local organizations have fed and sheltered us, national press and TV have reported
on us, and local police have escorted us on parades through city centres.
“On arrival in Turkey, we were overcome to find
a big welcome rally taking place right at the border crossing, where both Greek
and Turkish police and soldiers gave us victory signs!
“At the outskirts of Istanbul last night, my
van, comprising four ‘Aunties’ from England, Ireland, Wales and France, was
surrounded by emotional women who hugged us and thanked us for coming. It is
clear that the fact that we have come from the belly of the beast makes our
presence here especially significant to people outside the West.
“A little while later, a small girl knocked on
the window of our van. When I put the window down, she handed me a beautiful
picture she had drawn depicting the friendship between the Turkish and
Palestinian people, and asked me to deliver it to the children of Gaza.
“We are determined to succeed. The children of
Gaza especially deserve to know that we have not and will not forget them.”
In another message Joti confessed “I’ve never
had much time for all the ‘broadcast your life’ social networking stuff before,
but, on a mission like this, it has really come into its own. A whole network
of Twitterers, bloggers and Facebook users are pushing the message out far and
wide. And every little plug really does make a difference.”
Joti reported that she “gave a short phone
interview to the Lebanese Daily Star, who contacted me via Twitter. This
morning, the New Internationalist contacted me via this blog asking if I’d
write some posts for them too.” To read the Lebanese Daily Star article go
to http://www. dailystar.com.
Returning to the previously mentioned crossing of
the Greek-Turkish border Joti comments “as well as getting victory signs
from soldiers on both sides, we found an amazing welcome rally had been
organised right by the Turkish entrance barrier! In Britain, the police would
be setting the dogs and tear gas on us. In Turkey and Greece, the police were
joining in. Which is even more significant given the tense relations between
the two countries …”
The ordinary people of Greece and Turkey have
proved their support for the convoy, , offering food and drink, waving, beeping
horns and waiting around for hours in the cold to cheer it on.
Reinforced by contingents from Malaysia, Turkey,
the USA and more, making a grand total of 200 vehicles and 450 people, the Viva
Palestina convoy doggedly continues on its journey to Gaza.
In the words of Joti, echoing the thoughts of all
on the convoy and all its supporters “People of Palestine – the world is
with you!”