Waiting to welcome the convoy

08/03/2009

A long day of cordiality waiting to meet the convey ended with frustration

Members of Global Help Initiative for Palestine (HI) from Gaza city and other places gathered today 10 o'clock at al Nusirate refugee camp to head to Rafah crossing in order to meet the lifeline convoy which has been traveling 24 days over 10,000 km , across seven countries , to give the needy Palestinian people the humanitarian aid they have carried.

We had planned to receive the delegation with flowers at Rafah crossing though we faced some obstacles to get in for the reception take the governmental shape, eventually we managed to get in and wait for a long time with out any sign of their coming.

We know that Viva Palestina convoy is still stuck 40km from the Rafah border crossing at Al Arish after it was being prevented from progressing through the border gates to Gaza and they have been engaged in lengthily negotiations with Egyptian authorities. We are full of hope that the humanitarian aid will finally reach the needy people in Gaza.

HI chairman Hamza El Tawil said that though we are frustrated after this long day of waiting , this is considered nothing according to what they did by traveling all these kilometres and facing lots of problems for the Palestinian people . He also said that HI welcomes them at their home Gaza and Palestine and welcomes all those who are working for peace in Gaza and providing humanitarian support to the Palestinians.