THE LATEST Viva Palestina convoy to Gaza, Lifeline 5, hope to leave on Wednesday for the Egyptian port of Arish, where they are hopeful that the Egyptian government will allow the convoy to proceed. Abdel-Fattah Al-Kilani, head of the Jordanian Lifeline convoy, explained that a delegation from the convoy met Monday with Egypt's ambassador in Damascus who asked for a list of names of participants, materials they are intending to bring into Gaza, the date of departure and the period they want to stay in Gaza. "We are expecting the Egyptian reply within a couple of days, and we hope it will be positive," said Al-Kilani. Khaled Meshaal, head of the Hamas political bureau, told organisers of Lifeline 5 in Damascus, "the siege of Gaza has ended politically and ethically and we are just waiting for breaking it practically at your hands." The convoys have buttressed the steadfastness of the people of Gaza, and "exposed the true ugly face of the Israeli occupation". Meshaal reiterated that Hamas is keen to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation, describing it as strategic. Former British MP George Galloway appealed to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to open the doors for the humanitarian caravan, and also to allow him personally to accompany the convoy to Gaza. "I want to join the caravan into the Gaza Strip, but if my presence with the caravan would be sensitive to Egypt and would hinder the entry of the convoy, then I am ready not to accompany it," underscored Galloway. "Egypt isn't our enemy. Our enemy is the Israeli occupation, and we all want to keep the focus on the Israeli crimes against humanity in occupied Palestine." Participants will throw roses as they pass the spot where the Israeli Navy killed nine Turkish citizens participating in the May flotilla. Mohamed Sawalha, deputy head of the International Committee for Breaking the Siege stressed that international sympathy and solidarity with the Gaza Strip had increased rapidly, urging Egypt to extend a helping hand to the convoy. Around 400 activists from several countries are bringing 65 trucks carrying medical and hospital equipment, medicine, agricultural supplies, school supplies, and building materials. Meanwhile, Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine Tuesday said that 500 activists from 17 Asian countries will join a caravan from India and march through 18 cities of Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and then by sea in December. The team plans to be in Gaza 27 December, the second anniversary of Israel's invasion of Gaza in 2008. The caravan will make a historic crossing from India into Pakistan at Wagah where members of the Pakistan Solidarity for Gaza will join the caravan to Iran. Another convoy is being organised in Geneva, where the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, representing groups from over a dozen countries including Switzerland, Turkey and the US, is planning a flotilla bigger than the one stopped by Israel in June, as early as February 2011.
