19 aug 2012
Haneyya: Influx of convoys reflect solidarity with Palestinian people
Palestinian premier in Gaza Ismail Haneyya has said that the continuation of aid convoys to the Gaza Strip reflected that the Palestinian people were not alone in face of occupation.
Haneyya, who was receiving a delegation of the Miles of Smiles 15 aid convoy on Saturday, said that the Palestine cause was the core issue for the entire Arab and Islamic world.
The premier said that arrival of that convoy was one of the “victory omens” as it indicated that arrival to Gaza was now easy and not like in the past.
He hailed all members of the convoy for departing their families and countries in order to spend a few days of solidarity with the people of Gaza, noting that the arrival of the convoy coincided with the advent of Eidul Fitr.
For his part, Issam Yousef, the head of the convoy, pledged to continue to support the Palestinian people.
Haneyya, who was receiving a delegation of the Miles of Smiles 15 aid convoy on Saturday, said that the Palestine cause was the core issue for the entire Arab and Islamic world.
The premier said that arrival of that convoy was one of the “victory omens” as it indicated that arrival to Gaza was now easy and not like in the past.
He hailed all members of the convoy for departing their families and countries in order to spend a few days of solidarity with the people of Gaza, noting that the arrival of the convoy coincided with the advent of Eidul Fitr.
For his part, Issam Yousef, the head of the convoy, pledged to continue to support the Palestinian people.
15 aug 2012
Miles of Smiles convoy arrives in Gaza
The Miles of Smiles 15 aid convoy arrived in Gaza Strip on Wednesday via the Rafah border terminal.
Crossing sources told the PIC reporter that 70 solidarity activists accompany the convoy from a number of Arab and foreign countries especially Britain, Jordan, Egypt, and Algeria.
The sources said that the convoy is carrying with it medical assistance and other relief material.
Crossing sources told the PIC reporter that 70 solidarity activists accompany the convoy from a number of Arab and foreign countries especially Britain, Jordan, Egypt, and Algeria.
The sources said that the convoy is carrying with it medical assistance and other relief material.
14 aug 2012
Ansar 3 aid convoy heads to Gaza in September
The Jordanian Lifeline Committee confirmed that Ansar 3 aid convey will head to Gaza at the end of September accompanied with necessary medical supplies for the people of Gaza.
The coordinator of the convoy, Kifah Amayreh, said in a statement on Monday that the convoy collected donations to provide the needed medical supplies according to a list supplied by the health authorities in the Gaza Strip.
Amayreh stressed the importance of supporting the convoy that aims to ease the Israeli siege imposed on the people of Gaza Strip.
He explained that the convoy donations will be used to finance small projects in order to reduce unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip.
The coordinator of the convoy, Kifah Amayreh, said in a statement on Monday that the convoy collected donations to provide the needed medical supplies according to a list supplied by the health authorities in the Gaza Strip.
Amayreh stressed the importance of supporting the convoy that aims to ease the Israeli siege imposed on the people of Gaza Strip.
He explained that the convoy donations will be used to finance small projects in order to reduce unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip.
9 aug 2012
Feiler: Ship to Gaza campaign is aimed at breaking Israel's illegal Gaza siege
Dror Feiler
Coordinator of Ship to Gaza campaign Dror Feiler said the aid ship, which sailed last Sunday from Sweden, is aimed at breaking the illegal blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip.
Feiler told Quds Press that the organizers of this campaign want to challenge the illegal Israeli blockade on Gaza people, highlight their suffering and convey their humanitarian message to the international community.
"We started preparing for this ship about a month ago, and we set off from Sweden and reached far to the south of Norway with the determination to complete our way to Gaza," the campaign coordinator stated.
He noted that their ship, if not intercepted by the Israeli navy, might reach Gaza in the first week of next October.
Coordinator of Ship to Gaza campaign Dror Feiler said the aid ship, which sailed last Sunday from Sweden, is aimed at breaking the illegal blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip.
Feiler told Quds Press that the organizers of this campaign want to challenge the illegal Israeli blockade on Gaza people, highlight their suffering and convey their humanitarian message to the international community.
"We started preparing for this ship about a month ago, and we set off from Sweden and reached far to the south of Norway with the determination to complete our way to Gaza," the campaign coordinator stated.
He noted that their ship, if not intercepted by the Israeli navy, might reach Gaza in the first week of next October.
8 aug 2012
Scandinavian ship sets sail to Gaza
A ship of solidarity activists set sail from Oslo on Tuesday night en route to Gaza Strip to break the siege on the coastal enclave, according to its organizers.
They said that they intend to challenge the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza.
Radio Israel quoted the organizers as saying that they do not plan to resist any Israeli attempt to intercept the vessel.
They said that they intend to challenge the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza.
Radio Israel quoted the organizers as saying that they do not plan to resist any Israeli attempt to intercept the vessel.
30 july 2012
Jordanian aid convoy heads to Gaza next month
The Jordanian Lifeline Committee started preparations for Ansar 3 aid convoy which is planned to travel to Gaza in September.
"Ansar 3 convoy will leave from Jordan to Gaza in the second half of next September," Wael Al-Sakka, Jordanian Lifeline Committee Chairman and spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday.
"The convoy will be launched from Amman to Aqaba, to Nuweiba Egyptian port, and then to the Rafah crossing through El-Arish in Egypt, aiming to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and development projects to reduce unemployment rates in the Strip," he added.
"The convoy will collect donations during the holy month of Ramadan for this purpose," he stated, noting that "the aid will be used to finance small projects in order to reduce unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip."
Al-Sakka expected that 100 activists will participate in this convey that will stay in the Gaza Strip for a week.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF) party has strongly denounced the Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, calling on the Jordanian government to act to bridle the almost daily incursions to the holy compound.
The IAF official in charge of the Palestinian file Murad Adayleh held the Jordanian government responsible for protecting the holy sites, calling on it to take a firm position towards the recent violations.
He called on the government to "use all necessary means to stop the Israeli violations that took place at the behest of the extremist right-wing government", which he said was trying to demolish Al-Aqsa mosque in order to establish the alleged Temple on its ruins.
The Jordanian Islamic party asked Arab and Muslim governments to "condemn the recent attacks and to act to stop them," pointing out that "the attacks violate the international laws and conventions". It also called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and human rights organizations "to intervene to stop the recent serious assaults."
"Ansar 3 convoy will leave from Jordan to Gaza in the second half of next September," Wael Al-Sakka, Jordanian Lifeline Committee Chairman and spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday.
"The convoy will be launched from Amman to Aqaba, to Nuweiba Egyptian port, and then to the Rafah crossing through El-Arish in Egypt, aiming to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and development projects to reduce unemployment rates in the Strip," he added.
"The convoy will collect donations during the holy month of Ramadan for this purpose," he stated, noting that "the aid will be used to finance small projects in order to reduce unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip."
Al-Sakka expected that 100 activists will participate in this convey that will stay in the Gaza Strip for a week.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF) party has strongly denounced the Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, calling on the Jordanian government to act to bridle the almost daily incursions to the holy compound.
The IAF official in charge of the Palestinian file Murad Adayleh held the Jordanian government responsible for protecting the holy sites, calling on it to take a firm position towards the recent violations.
He called on the government to "use all necessary means to stop the Israeli violations that took place at the behest of the extremist right-wing government", which he said was trying to demolish Al-Aqsa mosque in order to establish the alleged Temple on its ruins.
The Jordanian Islamic party asked Arab and Muslim governments to "condemn the recent attacks and to act to stop them," pointing out that "the attacks violate the international laws and conventions". It also called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and human rights organizations "to intervene to stop the recent serious assaults."
Palestinian NGOs network denounces assault on spokesman for Ship to Gaza
The Palestinian NGOs network condemned the assault that occurred to Dror Feiler, the spokesman for the Swedish aid campaign "Ship to Gaza," in Gothenburg.
Feiler was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants on Friday night when he was on his way to the campaign's ship, Estelle, which is currently docked at Erikbergskaj in Gothenburg. The man or men attacked Feiler from behind, knocked him to the ground and kicked him several times before they left the scene.
The NGOs network contacted Feiler on Sunday to enquire about Feiler's health status and express its solidarity with him.
The network thanked Feiler and his fellow activists for the humanitarian efforts they are making nowadays to rally support for Gaza people.
Feiler, for his part, affirmed the Swedish aid campaigners' determination to continue their collection campaign until they set sail for Gaza.
“We in Ship to Gaza have been met with fantastic support during our trip along the whole of the Swedish coast, from Umea to Gothenburg. Everywhere people have flocked to the ship and left donations for our work towards lifting the blockade on the people of the Gaza Strip."
"Unfortunately, we have also been the target of threats in social media, threats which we obviously must take seriously. It is sad that voluntary work being done for human rights, peace and justice can arouse aggression in some people," he added.
Estelle is the name of the ship being used in "Ship to Gaza" campaign and it will be docked in Gothenburg until 1 August when it will go on its 5000-nautical-mile voyage to Gaza with the goal of ending the blockade.
Feiler was reportedly attacked by unknown assailants on Friday night when he was on his way to the campaign's ship, Estelle, which is currently docked at Erikbergskaj in Gothenburg. The man or men attacked Feiler from behind, knocked him to the ground and kicked him several times before they left the scene.
The NGOs network contacted Feiler on Sunday to enquire about Feiler's health status and express its solidarity with him.
The network thanked Feiler and his fellow activists for the humanitarian efforts they are making nowadays to rally support for Gaza people.
Feiler, for his part, affirmed the Swedish aid campaigners' determination to continue their collection campaign until they set sail for Gaza.
“We in Ship to Gaza have been met with fantastic support during our trip along the whole of the Swedish coast, from Umea to Gothenburg. Everywhere people have flocked to the ship and left donations for our work towards lifting the blockade on the people of the Gaza Strip."
"Unfortunately, we have also been the target of threats in social media, threats which we obviously must take seriously. It is sad that voluntary work being done for human rights, peace and justice can arouse aggression in some people," he added.
Estelle is the name of the ship being used in "Ship to Gaza" campaign and it will be docked in Gothenburg until 1 August when it will go on its 5000-nautical-mile voyage to Gaza with the goal of ending the blockade.
14 july 2012
Ship to Gaza: Estelle arrives in Stockholm with a message
This piece was originally published in Aftonbladet on Monday, July 9, 2012
The blockade—or put more correctly and in the term those who are hemmed in prefer: the siege—denies Palestinians in Gaza their human and civil rights. It robs them of their right to live as human beings.
But the siege has not achieved any of the goals that its proponents hold up as arguments in favor of it. It has not stopped sporadic rocket attacks into southern Israel. And it has neither removed Hamas from power nor impeded the recruiting of militia to armed resistance groups.
On the contrary.
The so-called tunnel economy, which is one of the results of the siege, breeds criminals and men in power while devastating the economy and causing businesses to collapse.
The only thing the siege has definitely succeeded in is to magnify bitterness and suspicion on either side of the wall—a wall that encloses the short strip of beach, along with the sea that is forbidden territory for Palestinians.
So the question is not why the siege should be ended but why it has not already been ended. Why is the Israeli government clinging to this inhumane, illegal and—for all parties involved—destructive policy? And why does the international community, which purports to support international law and human rights, keep allowing the siege to continue?
There are three factors that may shed some light on that mystery
Geopolitics. Many people were surprised and indignant over the Greek government's decision last summer to suddenly forbid any and all ships destined for Gaza, regardless of nationality, to depart from its ports. Nobody believed that the reason was concern for the safety of the passengers. Instead, there was an idea thrown around that the highly challenged Greek government had caved in to pressure and that Israel had expanded its siege policy, from then on viewing the entire Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea as its territorial waters, its Mare Nostrum.
That idea was not as baseless as it might appear. On the morning of May 31, 2010, the first constellation of Ship to Gaza/Freedom Flotilla was attacked by an Israeli military force, way out in international waters. The attack resulted in nine deaths and approximately fifty wounded.
A few days after the assault, it became known that there had been a significant natural-gas discovery in the Eastern Basin, named Leviathan after the sea monster in the Old Testament.
According to optimistic calculations, the discovery will transform Israel from an importer into an exporter of energy for decades to follow. Assuming that the discovery lives up to its expectations, it would change the geopolitical status of the region and bring income to the nations surrounding the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea. To Palestine as well, assuming the nation exists and its borders include a Mediterranean coastline.
The natural-gas discovery suggests that there may be non-military motives to Israel's arbitrary expansion of its security zone in the Mediterranean Sea, which occurred at the same time as the freedom of movement for Palestinian fishermen in Gaza was restricted to three nautical miles.
Separation policy.
Israeli policy vis-à-vis the occupied Palestinian territories varies according to area. In the West Bank, it is characterized by colonization, which breaks the territories up into a complicated and not-easily-delineated archipelago of scattered areas. Settlements, checkpoints and Israeli-only highways tear apart Palestinians' life and work, while they simultaneously resolutely act as barriers to any possibility of a cohesive, independent Palestine.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel implements what one of its own human rights organizations, GISHA, terms separation policy. This policy has significantly deeper roots than those of the settlement evacuations in 2005 or the tightening of the siege in 2007. While residents of the West Bank are granted access to Gaza, it is nearly impossible for Palestinian residents of Gaza to obtain a permit to travel to the West Bank. While trade is permitted between the West Bank (and not only the settlements) and Israel, trade between Gaza and Israel and between Gaza and the West Bank has been virtually eradicated.
The separation policy has yielded some headway, which is noticeable in the language we use. People are increasingly referring to "Gazans" and Gaza rather than as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with the Strip understood to be an obvious part of the Palestinian territories.
This is worth paying attention to—for initiatives such as Ship to Gaza as well. Advocating for the opening up of relations between the rest of the world and the Gaza Strip, but not the rest of Palestine, might in fact support Israel's separation policy.
Combined, the colonization of the West Bank and the separation of Gaza offer a clear view of the goal of the occupation: to shatter once and for all the dream of an independent, free Palestine, consisting of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The aim of the occupation policy, including the siege, is to disable the two-state solution that is unanimously backed by the international community and that drives the immense aid efforts which are hailed in lofty speeches and declarations.
Aid policy. The non-profit, religious, private and multinational organizations that provide most of the aid are under severe pressure from their own states and, ultimately, from the so-called "Quartet", which sets the tone and direction for the involvement of the international community in the region. Threats of canceled aid, or even criminalization, may be used to invoke silence and obedience.
Despite the risks, humanitarian aid organization speak out to point out the unbearable consequences of the siege, demanding action from those who are politically responsible. A short while ago, 50 of the leading aid organizations, with the World Health Organization leading the way, demanded an immediate ending of the siege.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which operates in Gaza and is highly regarded, recently highlighted a dilemma within international, cooperative aid work. In practicality, the aid efforts provide lubricant and financing for the occupation as they relieve Israel of its legal responsibilities for Palestinians' health and well-being. Without the international aid, the situation in Gaza would very swiftly appear to be just as catastrophic as it is.
The situation is truly absurd. The two-state solution is the motive behind one of the largest aid efforts in history. Israel's occupation is shooting, blockading, colonizing and bulldozing the two-state solution into annihilation. This systematic destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, which has gone on for decades to varying degrees, and in full force since 2000, is repaired with patchwork through international aid; that is, by taxpayers in the rest of the world.
This creative destruction is what world leaders call a peace process and a road map to peace.
Ship to Gaza is proposing a different approach. With Estelle, our sailing schooner, we are sending the Palestinians on the Gaza Strip a message:
You are not alone, and you are not forgotten.
The situation is grim, but not hopeless. And on board Estelle travels a clear message to world leaders: Let your actions match your grandiose words about human rights; end the siege as a first step toward true peace and justice.
This article was translated from Swedish to English by Christopher Pastorella.
The blockade—or put more correctly and in the term those who are hemmed in prefer: the siege—denies Palestinians in Gaza their human and civil rights. It robs them of their right to live as human beings.
But the siege has not achieved any of the goals that its proponents hold up as arguments in favor of it. It has not stopped sporadic rocket attacks into southern Israel. And it has neither removed Hamas from power nor impeded the recruiting of militia to armed resistance groups.
On the contrary.
The so-called tunnel economy, which is one of the results of the siege, breeds criminals and men in power while devastating the economy and causing businesses to collapse.
The only thing the siege has definitely succeeded in is to magnify bitterness and suspicion on either side of the wall—a wall that encloses the short strip of beach, along with the sea that is forbidden territory for Palestinians.
So the question is not why the siege should be ended but why it has not already been ended. Why is the Israeli government clinging to this inhumane, illegal and—for all parties involved—destructive policy? And why does the international community, which purports to support international law and human rights, keep allowing the siege to continue?
There are three factors that may shed some light on that mystery
Geopolitics. Many people were surprised and indignant over the Greek government's decision last summer to suddenly forbid any and all ships destined for Gaza, regardless of nationality, to depart from its ports. Nobody believed that the reason was concern for the safety of the passengers. Instead, there was an idea thrown around that the highly challenged Greek government had caved in to pressure and that Israel had expanded its siege policy, from then on viewing the entire Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea as its territorial waters, its Mare Nostrum.
That idea was not as baseless as it might appear. On the morning of May 31, 2010, the first constellation of Ship to Gaza/Freedom Flotilla was attacked by an Israeli military force, way out in international waters. The attack resulted in nine deaths and approximately fifty wounded.
A few days after the assault, it became known that there had been a significant natural-gas discovery in the Eastern Basin, named Leviathan after the sea monster in the Old Testament.
According to optimistic calculations, the discovery will transform Israel from an importer into an exporter of energy for decades to follow. Assuming that the discovery lives up to its expectations, it would change the geopolitical status of the region and bring income to the nations surrounding the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea. To Palestine as well, assuming the nation exists and its borders include a Mediterranean coastline.
The natural-gas discovery suggests that there may be non-military motives to Israel's arbitrary expansion of its security zone in the Mediterranean Sea, which occurred at the same time as the freedom of movement for Palestinian fishermen in Gaza was restricted to three nautical miles.
Separation policy.
Israeli policy vis-à-vis the occupied Palestinian territories varies according to area. In the West Bank, it is characterized by colonization, which breaks the territories up into a complicated and not-easily-delineated archipelago of scattered areas. Settlements, checkpoints and Israeli-only highways tear apart Palestinians' life and work, while they simultaneously resolutely act as barriers to any possibility of a cohesive, independent Palestine.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel implements what one of its own human rights organizations, GISHA, terms separation policy. This policy has significantly deeper roots than those of the settlement evacuations in 2005 or the tightening of the siege in 2007. While residents of the West Bank are granted access to Gaza, it is nearly impossible for Palestinian residents of Gaza to obtain a permit to travel to the West Bank. While trade is permitted between the West Bank (and not only the settlements) and Israel, trade between Gaza and Israel and between Gaza and the West Bank has been virtually eradicated.
The separation policy has yielded some headway, which is noticeable in the language we use. People are increasingly referring to "Gazans" and Gaza rather than as Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with the Strip understood to be an obvious part of the Palestinian territories.
This is worth paying attention to—for initiatives such as Ship to Gaza as well. Advocating for the opening up of relations between the rest of the world and the Gaza Strip, but not the rest of Palestine, might in fact support Israel's separation policy.
Combined, the colonization of the West Bank and the separation of Gaza offer a clear view of the goal of the occupation: to shatter once and for all the dream of an independent, free Palestine, consisting of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The aim of the occupation policy, including the siege, is to disable the two-state solution that is unanimously backed by the international community and that drives the immense aid efforts which are hailed in lofty speeches and declarations.
Aid policy. The non-profit, religious, private and multinational organizations that provide most of the aid are under severe pressure from their own states and, ultimately, from the so-called "Quartet", which sets the tone and direction for the involvement of the international community in the region. Threats of canceled aid, or even criminalization, may be used to invoke silence and obedience.
Despite the risks, humanitarian aid organization speak out to point out the unbearable consequences of the siege, demanding action from those who are politically responsible. A short while ago, 50 of the leading aid organizations, with the World Health Organization leading the way, demanded an immediate ending of the siege.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which operates in Gaza and is highly regarded, recently highlighted a dilemma within international, cooperative aid work. In practicality, the aid efforts provide lubricant and financing for the occupation as they relieve Israel of its legal responsibilities for Palestinians' health and well-being. Without the international aid, the situation in Gaza would very swiftly appear to be just as catastrophic as it is.
The situation is truly absurd. The two-state solution is the motive behind one of the largest aid efforts in history. Israel's occupation is shooting, blockading, colonizing and bulldozing the two-state solution into annihilation. This systematic destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, which has gone on for decades to varying degrees, and in full force since 2000, is repaired with patchwork through international aid; that is, by taxpayers in the rest of the world.
This creative destruction is what world leaders call a peace process and a road map to peace.
Ship to Gaza is proposing a different approach. With Estelle, our sailing schooner, we are sending the Palestinians on the Gaza Strip a message:
You are not alone, and you are not forgotten.
The situation is grim, but not hopeless. And on board Estelle travels a clear message to world leaders: Let your actions match your grandiose words about human rights; end the siege as a first step toward true peace and justice.
This article was translated from Swedish to English by Christopher Pastorella.
8 july 2012
Activists from aid convoy enter Gaza
A delegation of 40 international solidarity activists from different countries entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday afternoon via Egypt’s Rafah crossing.
An Egyptian security source at the terminal said the activists were part of the international aid convoy Miles of Smiles 14.
The group left humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip which will be sent later.
The aid includes, according to the source, 14 vehicles for disabled people in addition to medicines and an x-ray machine. The cargo is being checked at Alexandria port.
An Egyptian security source at the terminal said the activists were part of the international aid convoy Miles of Smiles 14.
The group left humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip which will be sent later.
The aid includes, according to the source, 14 vehicles for disabled people in addition to medicines and an x-ray machine. The cargo is being checked at Alexandria port.
7 july 2012
Italian medical aid en route to Gaza via Egypt
Egyptian authorities have completed preparations and checks to allow the entry of Italian medical aid into the Gaza Strip through its Rafah crossing Saturday afternoon.
An Egyptian security source in the northern Sinai Peninsula city of El-Arish said the medical aid was a donation by the organization Music for Peace in cooperation with the Italian Red Cross.
The donation consists of seven ambulances, a special vehicle for disabled people and six containers of medicines and medical equipment, the Egyptian source told Ma’an.
The donation was received by the Egyptian Red Crescent society in El-Arish, then it was delivered to the Egyptian side at the Rafah crossing to be transferred to the coastal enclave in the afternoon.
An Egyptian security source in the northern Sinai Peninsula city of El-Arish said the medical aid was a donation by the organization Music for Peace in cooperation with the Italian Red Cross.
The donation consists of seven ambulances, a special vehicle for disabled people and six containers of medicines and medical equipment, the Egyptian source told Ma’an.
The donation was received by the Egyptian Red Crescent society in El-Arish, then it was delivered to the Egyptian side at the Rafah crossing to be transferred to the coastal enclave in the afternoon.
23 june 2012
ADU sends milk shipment to Gaza children
The Emergency Relief Committee of the Arab Doctors Union has sent a new shipment of children's therapeutic milk, needed for feeding and treating children, to the Gaza Strip on Friday.
The shipment fell in line with the ADU project to provide Palestinian children with milk, which has been launched in May and will continue until August in cooperation with an Egyptian charity group.
The Relief Committee said in a statement that the project aims at contributing in the improvement of the health status of newborn babies who refuse breastfeeding or the local baby formula, in addition to "easing the economic burden on the poor families that are unable to purchase such expensive kind of milk."
The Committee had also sent a shipment of medicines and medical supplies costing one million U.S. dollars to the Gaza Strip last week in cooperation with Islamic Relief organization.
The shipment fell in line with the ADU project to provide Palestinian children with milk, which has been launched in May and will continue until August in cooperation with an Egyptian charity group.
The Relief Committee said in a statement that the project aims at contributing in the improvement of the health status of newborn babies who refuse breastfeeding or the local baby formula, in addition to "easing the economic burden on the poor families that are unable to purchase such expensive kind of milk."
The Committee had also sent a shipment of medicines and medical supplies costing one million U.S. dollars to the Gaza Strip last week in cooperation with Islamic Relief organization.
21 june 2012
Al-Wafa aid convoy arrives to Gaza
Al- Wafa 2 aid convoy arrived to the Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing, on Wednesday evening, received by several senior government officials and representatives of civil society.
Sources at Rafah crossing affirmed that the convoy, organized by the Charitable Association for Supporting Palestinian People (ABSPP) in Italy, includes 23 solidarity activists from Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.
Mohammed Hanoun, the convoy's coordinator stated that the convoy came to complete the Al-Wafa 1 vital projects that were launched from the European continent from 27 February until 2 March to the Gaza Strip, under the European Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Palestinian.
The Al-Wafa 2 aid convoy was received at Rafah crossing by many official figures and representatives of civil society institutions, including the Minister of Social Affairs, Ahmad Kurd and Minister of Awqaf Dr.Saleh Al-Raqb who have welcomed the convoy's members, appreciating their great efforts in supporting the Palestinian people in light of the Israeli siege.
The delegation would launch qualitative and vital projects in the Gaza Strip during their current visit, hoping that the new projects would provide work opportunities for the unemployed to enhance the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
The delegation would focus on the agricultural sector through the reconstruction and rehabilitation of cultivated fields to achieve food self-sufficiency in the Gaza Strip, as well as planting palm and olives trees to face the occupation crimes which work to uproot the trees during its daily incursions.
Sources at Rafah crossing affirmed that the convoy, organized by the Charitable Association for Supporting Palestinian People (ABSPP) in Italy, includes 23 solidarity activists from Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.
Mohammed Hanoun, the convoy's coordinator stated that the convoy came to complete the Al-Wafa 1 vital projects that were launched from the European continent from 27 February until 2 March to the Gaza Strip, under the European Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Palestinian.
The Al-Wafa 2 aid convoy was received at Rafah crossing by many official figures and representatives of civil society institutions, including the Minister of Social Affairs, Ahmad Kurd and Minister of Awqaf Dr.Saleh Al-Raqb who have welcomed the convoy's members, appreciating their great efforts in supporting the Palestinian people in light of the Israeli siege.
The delegation would launch qualitative and vital projects in the Gaza Strip during their current visit, hoping that the new projects would provide work opportunities for the unemployed to enhance the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
The delegation would focus on the agricultural sector through the reconstruction and rehabilitation of cultivated fields to achieve food self-sufficiency in the Gaza Strip, as well as planting palm and olives trees to face the occupation crimes which work to uproot the trees during its daily incursions.
11 june 2012
International aid convoy arrives in Gaza Strip
International aid convoy arrives in Gaza Strip
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A delegation of about a hundred pro-Palestine activists from several countries has arrived in the Gaza Strip to show its solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people, Press TV reports.
The convoy, which is part of the “Miles of Smiles Aid Convoy 13", entered the coastal enclave via the Egypt-controlled Rafah Crossing on Sunday and was received by Palestinian officials. The activists, some of whom had visited Gaza in previous aid missions, appealed to the international community to help reduce the sufferings of the Palestinians in the impoverished coastal sliver. “We are here to share the pain and inshallah help to relief the pain. We brought some aid from Malaysia, from the people of Malaysia,” Mousa Nordin, the chairman of Viva Malaysia, told Press TV. |
Activists say they are inspired by the resistance of the Palestinian people who have been enduring hardships under Israel's decades-long occupation.
Convoy members managed to bring some symbolic amount of much needed medical aid and educational tools in order to build links with the Gazans.
The activists are scheduled to stay for four days to see firsthand the situation on the ground and meet officials, and to talk to people affected by the siege.
The Tel Aviv regime has denied the nearly 1.7 million residents of Gaza their basic rights, including the freedom of movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
Haneyya: The ongoing convoys reflect we are not alone in our struggle
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya said that the solidarity and aid convoys that keep coming to the Gaza Strip reflect that the Palestinian people are not alone in their struggle against the Israeli occupation.
Haneyya made his remarks during his meeting on Sunday evening with members of Miles of Smiles aid convoy in Gaza. The delegation comprised political, military, independent figures from 17 Arab and foreign countries.
The premier expressed his thanks to the participants in this convoy for their sincere sentiments towards the Palestinian people and their stated readiness to participate in the liberation of Palestine.
Haneyya reassured the delegation that the Palestinian resistance is stronger than it was during wartime and was able to foil all conspiracies the Israeli occupation and its lackeys hatched against the Gaza people.
"Everyone must know that we are not only working for Gaza, but also we are working for all Palestine, for Jerusalem, the Aqsa Mosque, the return of refugees from exile and diaspora to their land and homes, and the protection of the nation and its heritage in Palestine," he stressed.
He also said that the Palestinian people wants to see the Palestinian reconciliation come true but not at the expense of the resistance and their rights or to legitimize the security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
Convoy members managed to bring some symbolic amount of much needed medical aid and educational tools in order to build links with the Gazans.
The activists are scheduled to stay for four days to see firsthand the situation on the ground and meet officials, and to talk to people affected by the siege.
The Tel Aviv regime has denied the nearly 1.7 million residents of Gaza their basic rights, including the freedom of movement and the right to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
Haneyya: The ongoing convoys reflect we are not alone in our struggle
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya said that the solidarity and aid convoys that keep coming to the Gaza Strip reflect that the Palestinian people are not alone in their struggle against the Israeli occupation.
Haneyya made his remarks during his meeting on Sunday evening with members of Miles of Smiles aid convoy in Gaza. The delegation comprised political, military, independent figures from 17 Arab and foreign countries.
The premier expressed his thanks to the participants in this convoy for their sincere sentiments towards the Palestinian people and their stated readiness to participate in the liberation of Palestine.
Haneyya reassured the delegation that the Palestinian resistance is stronger than it was during wartime and was able to foil all conspiracies the Israeli occupation and its lackeys hatched against the Gaza people.
"Everyone must know that we are not only working for Gaza, but also we are working for all Palestine, for Jerusalem, the Aqsa Mosque, the return of refugees from exile and diaspora to their land and homes, and the protection of the nation and its heritage in Palestine," he stressed.
He also said that the Palestinian people wants to see the Palestinian reconciliation come true but not at the expense of the resistance and their rights or to legitimize the security cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
10 june 2012
Gaza-bound aid convoy arrives at Rafah crossing
An international aid convoy arrived at the Rafah land crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Sunday, an Egyptian medical official said.
Head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, Jaber al-Arabi, told Ma'an that the aid convoy, which arrived from el-Arish, contains 30 tons of medicine and medical equipment.
Over 100 international activists were on board the convoy.
Egyptian security forces checked the contents and trucks from Gaza will carry the medicine across.
Israel intensified its land, sea and air blockade of Gaza in 2007 when Hamas took control of the coastal strip.
In May, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on its border with Gaza, allowing some residents to leave for the first time in years. The terminal is not equipped for the transfer of goods, and residents still rely on underground tunnels to smuggle in goods from Egypt.
Head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, Jaber al-Arabi, told Ma'an that the aid convoy, which arrived from el-Arish, contains 30 tons of medicine and medical equipment.
Over 100 international activists were on board the convoy.
Egyptian security forces checked the contents and trucks from Gaza will carry the medicine across.
Israel intensified its land, sea and air blockade of Gaza in 2007 when Hamas took control of the coastal strip.
In May, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing on its border with Gaza, allowing some residents to leave for the first time in years. The terminal is not equipped for the transfer of goods, and residents still rely on underground tunnels to smuggle in goods from Egypt.
8 june 2012
Canadians spearheading "Gaza's Ark"
Fisherman resort to using rods as their trawlers are harbour bound due to the threat of Israeli missiles on August 19, 2011 in Gaza City, Gaza.
The activists behind the Canadian Boat to Gaza, also known as The Tahrir, a vessel that attempted to deliver aid to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip last fall, are launching a new project to draw attention to their cause. The project is dubbed, "Gaza's Ark" and will set sail from Gaza.
Ehab Lotayef, a Montreal engineer and David Heap, a linguistics professor at the University of Western Ontario were both on The Tahrir when it was boarded by the Israeli navy in international waters on Nov 4, 2011. The boat contained medical supplies for the Palestinians living in Gaza.
The activists behind the Canadian Boat to Gaza, also known as The Tahrir, a vessel that attempted to deliver aid to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip last fall, are launching a new project to draw attention to their cause. The project is dubbed, "Gaza's Ark" and will set sail from Gaza.
Ehab Lotayef, a Montreal engineer and David Heap, a linguistics professor at the University of Western Ontario were both on The Tahrir when it was boarded by the Israeli navy in international waters on Nov 4, 2011. The boat contained medical supplies for the Palestinians living in Gaza.
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Before setting sail on The Tahrir
The two men were arrested and spent five days in an Israeli jail without charge, until they were deported back to Canada. Lotayef signed a waiver foregoing his right to appeal in front of an Israeli judge. Ehab Lotayef and David Heap on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, upon their return to Canada. |
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The Stream spoke to Ehab Lotayef about the idea behind "Gaza's Ark":
Is this effort less risky than trying to sail to Gaza?
What level of international assistance is expected for the project?
Lotayef explains the difficulties that lie in a project of this scale:
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Lotayef says it's a peaceful mission intended to stimulate Gaza's economy:
Is building an ark in Gaza by Gazans really feasible?
If Gazans are to be paid wages, where is the money coming from?
Lotayef and Heap were doing interviews the minute they landed, but only began a speaking tour in Feb 2012. Heap continues to tour the country today to raise awareness of their cause and collect donations for the Ark, planned for this summer. |
29 may 2012
Egypt prevents aid convoy to Gaza
European activists have condemned the Egyptian rejection to implement the obtained regulatory approvals in order to reach the Gaza Strip through the Sinai Peninsula.
The General Coordinator of the convoy "right of return", Kevin Aovindan, stated, in a press conference held in trade unions headquarters in Amman yesterday, that the lack of clarity and the contrast in Egyptian officials' positions prevented the arrival of the convoy to Gaza through the Egyptian borders.
Aovindan said that the President of the convoy, the British MP George Galloway was in Cairo until May 15, and he left after he had got the Egyptian official approval for the passage of the convoy to the Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing, however Egypt reneged on its approvals.
He added that "the participants in the convoy have spent over 3 weeks in Aqaba to get from the Egyptian authorities the permission to cross into Egypt and then to enter Gaza.
Aovindan said, regarding the aid collected by the convoy, "it will be sent to Gaza through the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization in coordination with the Jordanian Professional Associations".
Meanwhile, the Palestinian government in Gaza has received new commitments from its Egyptian counterpart to allow Qatari fuel to enter the besieged Gaza Strip during the next few days, after contacts between the Palestinian, Qatari, and Egyptian authorities.
The Palestinian foreign minister, Mahmoud Awad, said there are new Egyptian promises to facilitate the passage of Qatari fuel to the only power station in the Gaza Strip, according to Al-Arab newspaper.
The need for the Qatari fuel is increasing these days to operate the power station in Gaza and to alleviate the crisis in the electrical sector for more than four months.
Awad said that the Egyptian government had told them that the full procedures required to start pumping fuel into Gaza are completed, hoping that it will reach Gaza the next few days.
“In the last communications with various parties, we were told that the shipment will arrive in the coming few days,” Awad said, adding that there is no logical reason for the delay.
He called on the Egyptian authorities to press on the occupation to increase the quantity of fuel which will enter daily to Gaza in order not to drag the transport process to operate the power station to relieve the suffering of the Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
The Palestinian foreign minister pointed out that Qatar has borne the full cost of storing and transporting fuel to the Gaza Strip, thanking the Qatari government and the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani for their support for the Gaza strip and their role in transporting the fuel to Gaza.
Awad has praised the Qatari role in solving crisis in Gaza, stressing that the Palestinian people, who defend the dignity of the ummah, will never forget the Qatari position that was always behind them.
The General Coordinator of the convoy "right of return", Kevin Aovindan, stated, in a press conference held in trade unions headquarters in Amman yesterday, that the lack of clarity and the contrast in Egyptian officials' positions prevented the arrival of the convoy to Gaza through the Egyptian borders.
Aovindan said that the President of the convoy, the British MP George Galloway was in Cairo until May 15, and he left after he had got the Egyptian official approval for the passage of the convoy to the Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing, however Egypt reneged on its approvals.
He added that "the participants in the convoy have spent over 3 weeks in Aqaba to get from the Egyptian authorities the permission to cross into Egypt and then to enter Gaza.
Aovindan said, regarding the aid collected by the convoy, "it will be sent to Gaza through the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization in coordination with the Jordanian Professional Associations".
Meanwhile, the Palestinian government in Gaza has received new commitments from its Egyptian counterpart to allow Qatari fuel to enter the besieged Gaza Strip during the next few days, after contacts between the Palestinian, Qatari, and Egyptian authorities.
The Palestinian foreign minister, Mahmoud Awad, said there are new Egyptian promises to facilitate the passage of Qatari fuel to the only power station in the Gaza Strip, according to Al-Arab newspaper.
The need for the Qatari fuel is increasing these days to operate the power station in Gaza and to alleviate the crisis in the electrical sector for more than four months.
Awad said that the Egyptian government had told them that the full procedures required to start pumping fuel into Gaza are completed, hoping that it will reach Gaza the next few days.
“In the last communications with various parties, we were told that the shipment will arrive in the coming few days,” Awad said, adding that there is no logical reason for the delay.
He called on the Egyptian authorities to press on the occupation to increase the quantity of fuel which will enter daily to Gaza in order not to drag the transport process to operate the power station to relieve the suffering of the Palestinian citizens in Gaza.
The Palestinian foreign minister pointed out that Qatar has borne the full cost of storing and transporting fuel to the Gaza Strip, thanking the Qatari government and the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani for their support for the Gaza strip and their role in transporting the fuel to Gaza.
Awad has praised the Qatari role in solving crisis in Gaza, stressing that the Palestinian people, who defend the dignity of the ummah, will never forget the Qatari position that was always behind them.
17 may 2012
Humanitarian Development Convoys arrive in Gaza
In cooperation with the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza, the Jordan Lifeline to Gaza (Ansar 2) and Partners for Peace and Development (Miles of Smiles) humanitarian development convoys arrived in Gaza on Thursday (17th May).
Ansar 2, the Jordanian leg of the convoy consists of 91 Jordanians representing all sectors of Jordanian Society arrived in Al-Arish airport Thursday morning where they travelled directly to Rafah.
They were joined in Gaza by Miles of Smiles International convoy which travelled directly from Cairo to Rafah. This leg of the convoy consisted of 21 participants from Lebanon, 3 from Malaysia, 3 from France and 7 from Egypt.
Wael Al Sakka, the Chairman of Jordan Lifeline stated that “Previous convoys have no doubt been a great benefit in focusing attention on the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip as well as bringing emergency aid relief. However after evaluation of past convoys and in consultation with Gaza we have found it necessary to make significant change on the nature and content of the future convoys.”
Some areas the new models aims to achieve are:
A Supporting development projects as requested and defined by Gaza.
B Support the establishment of small businesses in order to alleviate high unemployment by granting loans to finance these projects.
C Continuation of focusing attention on issues through the media and political supporters of the convoy, Ansar-2 for example will be focusing on the prisoners issue.
D Supply of specialised medicines and medical equipment requested by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
This convoy will also be establishing a vocational training centre in the Engineers Association in Khan Younis to provide professional training in the field of reconstruction, as this sector suffers from a severe shortage of skilled trained workers.
Ansar 2, the Jordanian leg of the convoy consists of 91 Jordanians representing all sectors of Jordanian Society arrived in Al-Arish airport Thursday morning where they travelled directly to Rafah.
They were joined in Gaza by Miles of Smiles International convoy which travelled directly from Cairo to Rafah. This leg of the convoy consisted of 21 participants from Lebanon, 3 from Malaysia, 3 from France and 7 from Egypt.
Wael Al Sakka, the Chairman of Jordan Lifeline stated that “Previous convoys have no doubt been a great benefit in focusing attention on the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip as well as bringing emergency aid relief. However after evaluation of past convoys and in consultation with Gaza we have found it necessary to make significant change on the nature and content of the future convoys.”
Some areas the new models aims to achieve are:
A Supporting development projects as requested and defined by Gaza.
B Support the establishment of small businesses in order to alleviate high unemployment by granting loans to finance these projects.
C Continuation of focusing attention on issues through the media and political supporters of the convoy, Ansar-2 for example will be focusing on the prisoners issue.
D Supply of specialised medicines and medical equipment requested by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
This convoy will also be establishing a vocational training centre in the Engineers Association in Khan Younis to provide professional training in the field of reconstruction, as this sector suffers from a severe shortage of skilled trained workers.
29 apr 2012
Egyptian authorities block travel of aid convoy to Gaza
The Egyptian security authorities refused to allow a convoy organized by the Egyptian engineers syndicate to enter the Gaza Strip via Rafah crossing on Saturday evening.
Egyptian press reported that the security authorities ambushed the convoy seven kilometers from the Rafah border terminal and told the organizers that they lacked necessary security permits.
The organizers, for their part, affirmed that they had obtained all necessary papers before their travel from Cairo en route to Gaza Strip.
For his part, Kenan Obaid, the chairman of the Palestinian engineers syndicate in Gaza, asked the Cairo authorities to allow the convoy to pass without further interruption.
He said in a statement on Saturday evening that the convoy included 13 Egyptian engineers and carried with it construction material such as bricks, cement, and wood.
Obaid noted that members of the convoy staged a sit-in at the Rafah terminal to protest their entry denial, adding that the goods are Egyptian made that attempt for the first time to reach Gaza.
Egyptian press reported that the security authorities ambushed the convoy seven kilometers from the Rafah border terminal and told the organizers that they lacked necessary security permits.
The organizers, for their part, affirmed that they had obtained all necessary papers before their travel from Cairo en route to Gaza Strip.
For his part, Kenan Obaid, the chairman of the Palestinian engineers syndicate in Gaza, asked the Cairo authorities to allow the convoy to pass without further interruption.
He said in a statement on Saturday evening that the convoy included 13 Egyptian engineers and carried with it construction material such as bricks, cement, and wood.
Obaid noted that members of the convoy staged a sit-in at the Rafah terminal to protest their entry denial, adding that the goods are Egyptian made that attempt for the first time to reach Gaza.
6 apr 2012
Miles of Smiles 11 Convoy Reaches Gaza
"Miles of Smiles 11" solidarity convoy reached, on Thursday evening, the Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, to break the siege imposed on the people of Gaza for 5 years running.
The Palestinian Government in Gaza has welcomed the aid convey that includes 70 peace activists from different nationalities accompanied by a medical delegation.
The convoy will stay for several days till distributing the aids.
The Palestinian Government in Gaza has welcomed the aid convey that includes 70 peace activists from different nationalities accompanied by a medical delegation.
The convoy will stay for several days till distributing the aids.
