4 aug 2019
Medics treat Palestinian children suffering from teargas inhalation. The Big Ride for Palestine says it focuses on helping the 300,000 children in Gaza showing signs of severe psychological distress
Tower Hamlets officials did not divulge real reason for turning down Big Ride for Palestine
Officials at a London council that refused to host a charity event in aid of Palestinian children did not tell the organisers the decision was based on fears their criticism of Israel could breach antisemitism guidelines, internal emails have revealed.
The exchanges among officials at Tower Hamlets council also reveal they thought the event should be turned down, in part because of the row over antisemitism in the Labour party.
The council told The Big Ride for Palestine, which has raised nearly £150,000 for sports equipment for children in Gaza since 2015, that the event’s “political connotations” meant that the closing rally of this year’s bike ride could not go ahead in the borough “without problems”.
Officials told organisers there was a risk speakers might express views which contradicted the council’s policies on community cohesion and equality.
Behind the scenes, council staff raised fears of a “real risk” that the event and its organisers could be seen to have breached the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism because of references on their website to apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
One official said there were concerns “not least because of the recent furour [sic] within the Labour party over Anti Semitism [sic]”.
When considering how to explain the decision, one council official said it would be wise to “avoid the anti Semitism aspect ref their website as this could open a can of worms and come back to bite us”. There was no reference to antisemitism in the email to the event’s organisers.
The internal emails, released after a freedom of information request by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, revealed the council attempted to assess the Big Ride website according to the rubric of the controversial IHRA definition.
The emails showed concern among council officials over quotes on the Big Ride website that described the Israeli treatment of Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and drew parallels between Israeli policies and apartheid-era South Africa.
One section of the website said: “Active opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state is a responsibility, just as opposition to South African apartheid was a moral and political imperative for many”, while another said: “It’s blatantly obvious to recognise the parallels between Apartheid South Africa and the state of Israel ...
This is an Israeli issue, not a Jewish one, many Jewish friends oppose this oppression.”
Elsewhere, the ride was described as a protest “against 67 years of Israeli ethnic cleansing”.
The controversial IHRA definition warns “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” constitutes antisemitism. It grew in prominence after the Labour party adopted a version that excluded some examples included in the original text.
The party ultimately adopted the full definition, alongside a statement specifying that nothing in it should “undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians”.
Critics say the definition potentially conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with racism. Its supporters view it as a means of helping organisations assess subtler forms of antisemitic abuse.
The emails show council staff had already decided the event could be refused on the grounds it was “controversial and sensitive” before calling on colleagues to check it against IHRA criteria.
After looking at the text of the website, an official, whose name was redacted from the released emails, wrote: “It seems therefore, that although the application form raises no issues, the contents of their website does raise the risk that the event will fall foul of the position the council has adopted.”
In a separate email, the council’s head of sports, leisure and culture said she felt the event should be refused because “the council has recently adopted the [IHRA] definition of antisemitism and there are concerns about the content of the organisation’s website with regard to this”.
The head of parks, Stephen Murray, suggested avoiding explaining the reasons behind the refusal in any reply to Big Ride organisers because of concerns that it would open “a can of worms”.
A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson told the Guardian: “The council gave the application careful consideration and decided not to host the event, because we do not host rallies with political connotations, albeit without direct links to political parties.”
A spokesperson for the charity said its work was focused on helping the 300,000 children in Gaza showing signs of severe psychological distress.
The spokesperson added: “It’s a dreadful thing when an over-scrupulous interpretation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism is used behind closed doors to prevent awareness raising of the situation in Palestine and the need for humanitarian support.”
Tower Hamlets officials did not divulge real reason for turning down Big Ride for Palestine
Officials at a London council that refused to host a charity event in aid of Palestinian children did not tell the organisers the decision was based on fears their criticism of Israel could breach antisemitism guidelines, internal emails have revealed.
The exchanges among officials at Tower Hamlets council also reveal they thought the event should be turned down, in part because of the row over antisemitism in the Labour party.
The council told The Big Ride for Palestine, which has raised nearly £150,000 for sports equipment for children in Gaza since 2015, that the event’s “political connotations” meant that the closing rally of this year’s bike ride could not go ahead in the borough “without problems”.
Officials told organisers there was a risk speakers might express views which contradicted the council’s policies on community cohesion and equality.
Behind the scenes, council staff raised fears of a “real risk” that the event and its organisers could be seen to have breached the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism because of references on their website to apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
One official said there were concerns “not least because of the recent furour [sic] within the Labour party over Anti Semitism [sic]”.
When considering how to explain the decision, one council official said it would be wise to “avoid the anti Semitism aspect ref their website as this could open a can of worms and come back to bite us”. There was no reference to antisemitism in the email to the event’s organisers.
The internal emails, released after a freedom of information request by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, revealed the council attempted to assess the Big Ride website according to the rubric of the controversial IHRA definition.
The emails showed concern among council officials over quotes on the Big Ride website that described the Israeli treatment of Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and drew parallels between Israeli policies and apartheid-era South Africa.
One section of the website said: “Active opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state is a responsibility, just as opposition to South African apartheid was a moral and political imperative for many”, while another said: “It’s blatantly obvious to recognise the parallels between Apartheid South Africa and the state of Israel ...
This is an Israeli issue, not a Jewish one, many Jewish friends oppose this oppression.”
Elsewhere, the ride was described as a protest “against 67 years of Israeli ethnic cleansing”.
The controversial IHRA definition warns “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” constitutes antisemitism. It grew in prominence after the Labour party adopted a version that excluded some examples included in the original text.
The party ultimately adopted the full definition, alongside a statement specifying that nothing in it should “undermine freedom of expression on Israel or the rights of Palestinians”.
Critics say the definition potentially conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with racism. Its supporters view it as a means of helping organisations assess subtler forms of antisemitic abuse.
The emails show council staff had already decided the event could be refused on the grounds it was “controversial and sensitive” before calling on colleagues to check it against IHRA criteria.
After looking at the text of the website, an official, whose name was redacted from the released emails, wrote: “It seems therefore, that although the application form raises no issues, the contents of their website does raise the risk that the event will fall foul of the position the council has adopted.”
In a separate email, the council’s head of sports, leisure and culture said she felt the event should be refused because “the council has recently adopted the [IHRA] definition of antisemitism and there are concerns about the content of the organisation’s website with regard to this”.
The head of parks, Stephen Murray, suggested avoiding explaining the reasons behind the refusal in any reply to Big Ride organisers because of concerns that it would open “a can of worms”.
A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson told the Guardian: “The council gave the application careful consideration and decided not to host the event, because we do not host rallies with political connotations, albeit without direct links to political parties.”
A spokesperson for the charity said its work was focused on helping the 300,000 children in Gaza showing signs of severe psychological distress.
The spokesperson added: “It’s a dreadful thing when an over-scrupulous interpretation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism is used behind closed doors to prevent awareness raising of the situation in Palestine and the need for humanitarian support.”
11 july 2019
A delegation from the Miles of Smiles campaign visited the Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening as a prelude to the arrival of its 37th aid convoy during the coming days.
Head of the campaign Isam Yousef said the delegation’s visit to Gaza was aimed to serve relief and humanitarian purposes, adding that they would visit several educational, charitable and medical institutions in the coastal enclave.
Yousef also said that the delegation would pay great attention to citizens with special needs and there would be special equipment for them in the coming convoy.
The delegation includes different Jordanian surgeons who came to perform surgeries for Gaza patients.
Head of the campaign Isam Yousef said the delegation’s visit to Gaza was aimed to serve relief and humanitarian purposes, adding that they would visit several educational, charitable and medical institutions in the coastal enclave.
Yousef also said that the delegation would pay great attention to citizens with special needs and there would be special equipment for them in the coming convoy.
The delegation includes different Jordanian surgeons who came to perform surgeries for Gaza patients.
27 june 2019
A new convoy of medical aid sent by the Miles of Smiles campaign arrived Wednesday in the besieged Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.
Coordinator of the campaign in Europe Khaled al-Yousef said the convoy of medical supplies moved last Sunday from Alexandria city towards Gaza.
For his part, head of the campaign Isam Yousef said that Miles of Smiles had been sending shipments of medical supplies since last May, adding that the current convoy was the third of its kind during this period.
Yousef noted that the new medical aid was the 36th Miles of Smiles campaign that arrived in Gaza.
Coordinator of the campaign in Europe Khaled al-Yousef said the convoy of medical supplies moved last Sunday from Alexandria city towards Gaza.
For his part, head of the campaign Isam Yousef said that Miles of Smiles had been sending shipments of medical supplies since last May, adding that the current convoy was the third of its kind during this period.
Yousef noted that the new medical aid was the 36th Miles of Smiles campaign that arrived in Gaza.
1 june 2019
Palestinian students listen to a teacher inside a prefabricated classroom in the occupied West Bank
Israeli authorities are reportedly going to auction two prefabricated classrooms that were donated to Palestinian schoolchildren by the European Union.
According to a report published by the British daily The Guardian, the classrooms, which were torn down and confiscated by Israeli forces in October last year, will be put up for sale next week.
They had been intended for 49 Palestinian students of primary school age in the northern occupied West Bank village of Ibziq.
An advertisement published in the Israeli Hebrew-language daily Maariv said the sale would take place at the offices of the so-called Israeli Civil Administration across the West Bank.
When the classrooms were dismantled, the EU mission to Jerusalem al-Quds and Ramallah condemned the move, and called on Israeli authorities to rebuild the structures in the same place “without delay.”
“Every child has the right to access education and states have an obligation to protect, respect and fulfill this right, by ensuring that schools are inviolable safe spaces for children.
“[The] EU calls upon the Israeli authorities to halt demolitions and confiscations of Palestinian houses and property, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law,” it said at the time.
Israel argues that the schools had been constructed in Area C without obtaining a prior permission from the so-called Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a unit in Israel’s ministry of military affairs that oversees civil matters in the Palestinian territories.
Area C constitutes about 61 percent of the entire West Bank and it is directly controlled by COGAT, which demands permits for new building projects.
Nevertheless, the majority of planning requests are firmly denied, leaving international donors and Palestinians alike with no choice but to construct new schools anyway.
Late last August, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said Palestinian children in the occupied territories were simply being denied education as the Israeli regime kept on with the much-blamed policy of demolishing their newly constructed schools.
The NRC said some 55 schools in the West Bank, most of them built with funding from the EU member states and other donors, were threatened with demolition and stop-work orders by Israeli authorities.
The EU has already announced that some 100 structures, including homes, shelters, water networks and schools, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds have been destroyed or confiscated over the past years.
Many believe that the controversial demolition measures adopted by Tel Aviv are aimed at expelling more Palestinians from the West Bank.
Israel was created in 1948 after a Western-backed military seizure of vast expanses of Arab territories. In 1967, Israel occupied the entire West Bank, including East al-Quds, during full-frontal military operations. It later annexed the territories. Upon annexation, it also began propping up settlements, deemed as illegal by the international community due to their construction on occupied land.
More than 600,000 Israelis now live in over 230 settlements. Tel Aviv has defied calls to stop settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli authorities are reportedly going to auction two prefabricated classrooms that were donated to Palestinian schoolchildren by the European Union.
According to a report published by the British daily The Guardian, the classrooms, which were torn down and confiscated by Israeli forces in October last year, will be put up for sale next week.
They had been intended for 49 Palestinian students of primary school age in the northern occupied West Bank village of Ibziq.
An advertisement published in the Israeli Hebrew-language daily Maariv said the sale would take place at the offices of the so-called Israeli Civil Administration across the West Bank.
When the classrooms were dismantled, the EU mission to Jerusalem al-Quds and Ramallah condemned the move, and called on Israeli authorities to rebuild the structures in the same place “without delay.”
“Every child has the right to access education and states have an obligation to protect, respect and fulfill this right, by ensuring that schools are inviolable safe spaces for children.
“[The] EU calls upon the Israeli authorities to halt demolitions and confiscations of Palestinian houses and property, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law,” it said at the time.
Israel argues that the schools had been constructed in Area C without obtaining a prior permission from the so-called Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a unit in Israel’s ministry of military affairs that oversees civil matters in the Palestinian territories.
Area C constitutes about 61 percent of the entire West Bank and it is directly controlled by COGAT, which demands permits for new building projects.
Nevertheless, the majority of planning requests are firmly denied, leaving international donors and Palestinians alike with no choice but to construct new schools anyway.
Late last August, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said Palestinian children in the occupied territories were simply being denied education as the Israeli regime kept on with the much-blamed policy of demolishing their newly constructed schools.
The NRC said some 55 schools in the West Bank, most of them built with funding from the EU member states and other donors, were threatened with demolition and stop-work orders by Israeli authorities.
The EU has already announced that some 100 structures, including homes, shelters, water networks and schools, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds have been destroyed or confiscated over the past years.
Many believe that the controversial demolition measures adopted by Tel Aviv are aimed at expelling more Palestinians from the West Bank.
Israel was created in 1948 after a Western-backed military seizure of vast expanses of Arab territories. In 1967, Israel occupied the entire West Bank, including East al-Quds, during full-frontal military operations. It later annexed the territories. Upon annexation, it also began propping up settlements, deemed as illegal by the international community due to their construction on occupied land.
More than 600,000 Israelis now live in over 230 settlements. Tel Aviv has defied calls to stop settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestinian children play at their home in the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem al-Quds
The European Union has lambasted Israel for its apparent plans to sell humanitarian aid given to inhabitants of Bedouin villages in Palestine’s occupied West Bank.
Shadi Othman, EU’s spokesman in Jerusalem al-Quds, said on Friday that COGAT, a unit in Israel’s ministry of military affairs that oversees civilian activities in the Palestinian territories, would put up EU-donated aid for auction within days.
The supplies include “two school structures that had been consigned to Ibziq community, and two tents and three metal sheds to the al-Hadidiya community,” Othman said, adding that the aid, worth 15,320 euros ($17,100), had been confiscated by Israeli authorities in October and November last year.
On May 6, COGAT published an advertisement in the Maariv newspaper, detailing the sale of “seized property” from the occupied West Bank.
“In the case where the owners of these seized assets have not proceeded to request the return of their property within 30 days of the publication of this notice, the assets will be sold,” the advertisement said.
However, Othman said that the EU made an official request for the return of the structures but received no response from the Israeli authorities.
The “EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah had called on Israeli authorities to return the confiscated items to their intended beneficiaries without precondition as soon as possible” or provide compensation, the spokesman added.
The European body often finances humanitarian structures in Bedouin villages, which are frequently seized by Israeli authorities who claim the necessary authorization has not been provided.
Israeli authorities have been carrying out forced evacuations against Bedouins since 1949.
The demolition of Bedouin homes by Israeli authorities, claiming that the residential structures have been built without the relevant building permits, is also part of the Israeli regime’s massive land grab policy, which will forcefully displace thousands of people.
It is nearly impossible for Bedouin communities to obtain building permits in the occupied West Bank.
Tel Aviv has so far refused to recognize the rights of Palestinian Bedouins and denies them access to basic services.
About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built illegally since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian lands.
Back in March, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report that Israel had until then occupied more than 85 percent, or some 27,000 square kilometers, of the historical territories of Palestine in an expropriation process that continues unabated.
The European Union has lambasted Israel for its apparent plans to sell humanitarian aid given to inhabitants of Bedouin villages in Palestine’s occupied West Bank.
Shadi Othman, EU’s spokesman in Jerusalem al-Quds, said on Friday that COGAT, a unit in Israel’s ministry of military affairs that oversees civilian activities in the Palestinian territories, would put up EU-donated aid for auction within days.
The supplies include “two school structures that had been consigned to Ibziq community, and two tents and three metal sheds to the al-Hadidiya community,” Othman said, adding that the aid, worth 15,320 euros ($17,100), had been confiscated by Israeli authorities in October and November last year.
On May 6, COGAT published an advertisement in the Maariv newspaper, detailing the sale of “seized property” from the occupied West Bank.
“In the case where the owners of these seized assets have not proceeded to request the return of their property within 30 days of the publication of this notice, the assets will be sold,” the advertisement said.
However, Othman said that the EU made an official request for the return of the structures but received no response from the Israeli authorities.
The “EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah had called on Israeli authorities to return the confiscated items to their intended beneficiaries without precondition as soon as possible” or provide compensation, the spokesman added.
The European body often finances humanitarian structures in Bedouin villages, which are frequently seized by Israeli authorities who claim the necessary authorization has not been provided.
Israeli authorities have been carrying out forced evacuations against Bedouins since 1949.
The demolition of Bedouin homes by Israeli authorities, claiming that the residential structures have been built without the relevant building permits, is also part of the Israeli regime’s massive land grab policy, which will forcefully displace thousands of people.
It is nearly impossible for Bedouin communities to obtain building permits in the occupied West Bank.
Tel Aviv has so far refused to recognize the rights of Palestinian Bedouins and denies them access to basic services.
About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built illegally since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian lands.
Back in March, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report that Israel had until then occupied more than 85 percent, or some 27,000 square kilometers, of the historical territories of Palestine in an expropriation process that continues unabated.
3 may 2019
A delegation from the Miles of Smiles campaign arrived in the Gaza Strip after midnight through the Rafah border crossing.
Head of the delegation Essam Yousef said the delegation included activists from Malaysia, Jordan, Kuwait, South Africa, Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Yousef added that members of the delegation would conduct field visits to see closely the health, humanitarian and living conditions in Gaza.
Head of the delegation Essam Yousef said the delegation included activists from Malaysia, Jordan, Kuwait, South Africa, Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Yousef added that members of the delegation would conduct field visits to see closely the health, humanitarian and living conditions in Gaza.
23 apr 2019
Dr. Essam Youssef, the Head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza, announced that new Miles of Smiles convoy is set to arrive in the Gaza Strip early next month.
Working as the coordinator of the series of convoys that first entered Gaza back in 2009, Youssef stated that Egyptian authorities have given permission for the group of humanitarian activists to enter the territory through Rafah crossing, reported Quds Press.
He asserted that the Gaza Strip is under an Israeli-led siege and economic sanctions, and that the people need a lot of humanitarian assistance. Also, the healthcare sector is in particular need of urgent support, he added.
The veteran Palestinian charity campaigner stressed that aid agencies in the Arab and Islamic countries should unite and prepare for the relief and solidarity convoy. He appealed to them to send donations for Miles of Smiles to take vital medicines and medical supplies into Gaza.
“We are looking to buy wheelchairs and other mobility aids for the many people who have lost limbs and been seriously wounded, during the Great March of Return protests,” Youssef pointed out.
“Furthermore, the sort of essential items that we all take for granted are missing in Gaza’s hospitals, including basic medical disposables such as antibiotics, antiseptics and sterile equipment to prevent infection. It is a catastrophic situation which we hope to alleviate as much as we can.”
The health sector in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated to the point of collapse as a result of the siege, now approaching its 13th year.
Incredibly, Days of Palestine further reports, the Miles of Smiles convoys were once lauded by Israeli forces for taking an apolitical position, with regard to their humanitarian efforts. “We are here to help anyone on the basis of their need,” explained Dr Essam Youssef. “Political, religious or other affiliation doesn’t enter the equation; just need.”
Working as the coordinator of the series of convoys that first entered Gaza back in 2009, Youssef stated that Egyptian authorities have given permission for the group of humanitarian activists to enter the territory through Rafah crossing, reported Quds Press.
He asserted that the Gaza Strip is under an Israeli-led siege and economic sanctions, and that the people need a lot of humanitarian assistance. Also, the healthcare sector is in particular need of urgent support, he added.
The veteran Palestinian charity campaigner stressed that aid agencies in the Arab and Islamic countries should unite and prepare for the relief and solidarity convoy. He appealed to them to send donations for Miles of Smiles to take vital medicines and medical supplies into Gaza.
“We are looking to buy wheelchairs and other mobility aids for the many people who have lost limbs and been seriously wounded, during the Great March of Return protests,” Youssef pointed out.
“Furthermore, the sort of essential items that we all take for granted are missing in Gaza’s hospitals, including basic medical disposables such as antibiotics, antiseptics and sterile equipment to prevent infection. It is a catastrophic situation which we hope to alleviate as much as we can.”
The health sector in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated to the point of collapse as a result of the siege, now approaching its 13th year.
Incredibly, Days of Palestine further reports, the Miles of Smiles convoys were once lauded by Israeli forces for taking an apolitical position, with regard to their humanitarian efforts. “We are here to help anyone on the basis of their need,” explained Dr Essam Youssef. “Political, religious or other affiliation doesn’t enter the equation; just need.”
19 apr 2019
A convoy of trucks carrying medical aid from Jordan arrived on Thursday in the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.
According to the information office at the crossing, nine trucks carrying shipments of medicines and different medical supplies entered Gaza.
Meanwhile, various delegations visited Gaza yesterday, including one from the World Bank.
French and Japanese diplomatic delegations also arrived in the coastal enclave to see and launch projects financed by their countries.
According to the information office at the crossing, nine trucks carrying shipments of medicines and different medical supplies entered Gaza.
Meanwhile, various delegations visited Gaza yesterday, including one from the World Bank.
French and Japanese diplomatic delegations also arrived in the coastal enclave to see and launch projects financed by their countries.
4 feb 2019
The Association of Charitable Organizations said that a delegation from the Miles of Smiles aid convoys is en route to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Head of the association Ahmed al-Kurd told Arabi21 said that a delegation of three officials from the Miles of Smiles campaign would visit Gaza to examine and study its humanitarian and medical situation, affirming that the delegation would not bring any aid shipment with it.
Members of the delegation are still in the Sinai and may arrive in Gaza on Monday, according to Kurd.
Head of the association Ahmed al-Kurd told Arabi21 said that a delegation of three officials from the Miles of Smiles campaign would visit Gaza to examine and study its humanitarian and medical situation, affirming that the delegation would not bring any aid shipment with it.
Members of the delegation are still in the Sinai and may arrive in Gaza on Monday, according to Kurd.
2 feb 2019
“Miles Of Smiles 35” humanitarian solidarity convoy is scheduled to arrive in the besieged and improvised Gaza Strip this Sunday through Egypt to provide some of the urgently aid, especially medicine and fuel.
Dr. Issam Yousef, the coordinator of Miles of Smiles and the head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza, in addition to Khaled al-Yousef, the coordinator of aid convoys and the head of the Swedish humanitarian convoy are among the participants.
Yousef said convoy members also intend to observe and examine the dire needs of the health sector in the Gaza Strip, and the required means to provide the hospitals with the needed fuel for their power generators.
He added that the convoy intends to examine new methods to support Gaza in coordination with Egypt, and will also inform all partners and supporters of Miles of Smiles about the needs and the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
“It is very important to provide this urgently needed support to the hospitals and medical centers in the Gaza Strip,” Yousef stated, “We are talking about the lives of thousands of patients who need this aid, and the least anyone can do is to provide the essential fuel and medicine.”
Dr. Issam Yousef, the coordinator of Miles of Smiles and the head of the Popular International Committee to Support Gaza, in addition to Khaled al-Yousef, the coordinator of aid convoys and the head of the Swedish humanitarian convoy are among the participants.
Yousef said convoy members also intend to observe and examine the dire needs of the health sector in the Gaza Strip, and the required means to provide the hospitals with the needed fuel for their power generators.
He added that the convoy intends to examine new methods to support Gaza in coordination with Egypt, and will also inform all partners and supporters of Miles of Smiles about the needs and the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
“It is very important to provide this urgently needed support to the hospitals and medical centers in the Gaza Strip,” Yousef stated, “We are talking about the lives of thousands of patients who need this aid, and the least anyone can do is to provide the essential fuel and medicine.”
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