Egypt bans activists from Gaza convoy

Members of the Asia to Gaza Caravan

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/157965.html


Egypt has prevented some 50 Iranian and Jordanian activists on the Asia 1 aid convoy from reaching the Gaza Strip through its soil.

The Egyptian embassy in Damascus, Syria, has informed the convoy of a permit that allows only 120 activists to pass through Egypt and then enter Gaza via El Arish port, the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported Thursday.

Palestinian authorities said that Cairo is also denying entry to 10 generators donated by Iranians. This will decrease the size of the humanitarian convoy to below 300 tons, which will be limited to food and medical aid, in addition to toys, for the besieged Palestinians.

Gaza has been under a crippling blockade since 2007.

The Asia to Gaza Caravan, or Asia 1, consists of activists from more than 15 countries, including Iran, India, Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Kuwait. It was scheduled to reach Gaza by December 27, in time for the second anniversary of Israel's 22-day war on the Strip that started on December 28, 2008.

Over 1,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed and thousands others injured or maimed in the three-week Israeli-imposed war. Half of Gaza's infrastructure was destroyed and remains unrepaired as a result of Israel's siege, which includes a ban on the entry of building materials into the coastal sliver.

The convoy has travelled 7,000 kilometers but has been stuck in Latikia, in Syria, since last week awaiting Egypt's permission.

Senior cleric hails Asian Gaza Convoy

Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/157851.html


Iranian Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has lauded an Asian humanitarian aid convoy for making an effort to break the Israeli crippling siege of the Gaza Strip.

“I am so happy with your visit [to Gaza] which pursues a humanitarian goal,” Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said in a letter to the Asian Gaza Convoy, ISNA reported on Thursday.

“This act of yours will be internally recorded in history and be aware that this absolutely humanitarian move to save an innocent community will be reflected around the globe,” he added.

The senior cleric condemned the “usurper Israeli regime” for its occupation of the Palestinian territories and scorned the blockade of the Gaza Strip as an imprudent move that earns further shame and disgrace for Tel Aviv.

“Another consequence of this insane move is forging a link among various ethnicities and faiths,” Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said, noting how the occupation of Palestine has grown from an Arab world issue to an international issue which is not limited by boundaries of religion or race.

This paves the way for the further decline of the Zionist regime [Israel],” he went on to say and expressed hope that the “brave and meditated” move by the Asian Gaza Convoy would make a great contribution to the collapse of Israel.

In the letter delivered to the aid fleet in Syria, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said he wished he could accompany the convoy.

“Although I am not physically amongst you, my heart is with you all your journey long, and I hope this visit will be effective in the awakening of the human community and disgrace of the usurpers and sympathizers of the Israeli regime.”

He also expressed hope that the move would set an example for the emancipation of humans from oppressors and occupiers across the world.

A group of 50 activists originally started their planned nine-country road convoy trip from India and entered Iran through the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan on December 9.

Accompanied by a group of Iranian lawmakers, the convoy was scheduled to arrive at the Rafah crossing in late December to deliver its cargo of the much needed medical and relief supplies for the impoverished people in Gaza.

Gaza-bound Asia 1 arrives in Lebanon

Asia 1's leader, Fayrouz Mesbrola from India (R), delivers a gift to Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal in the Syrian capital of Damascus on December 22, 2010

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/156852.html


The first Asian humanitarian convoy to break Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip by taking relief supplies to the coastal sliver has reached Lebanon.

Currently joined by activists of 15 different nationalities, the Asian People's Solidarity with Palestine convoy, also known as Asia 1, began its journey from India and traveled through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Syria before arriving in Lebanon.

The activists say they want to display solidarity with the Palestinian people in their resistance against Israel.

Tel Aviv has been enforcing an all-out land, aerial and naval blockade on the 1.5 million Palestinians in the enclave since mid-June 2007.

The mission has been welcomed by Khaled Mashaal, the political leader of the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas, as well as Ramadan Abdullah, the leader of the Palestinian group of Islamic Jihad.

"We really appreciate your effort to keep this momentum and to follow up your work," Abdullah said.

A seven-member delegation of Iranian lawmakers joined the mission while it was in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The convoy plans to enter Gaza later in the month on the anniversary of the launch of the 22-day-long Israeli war on the enclave, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians.

There are fears that the mission might be fiercely confronted by Israel's military, which killed nine Turkish activists aboard Freedom Flotilla, an Ankara-backed humanitarian convoy, on May 31.

However, an Indian activist with the mission told Press TV, “We are completely non-violent. We do not have weapons.”

In case of an attack, “We will face it with non-violence. We'll face it with a prayer in our hearts,” he added.