Viva Palestina! – Lifeline for Gaza aid convoy

Viva Palestina! leaving on Saturday 14 February 2009 A message from George Galloway More than 1,300 dead – more than 400 of them children – and still they are dragging bodies from the ruins. The death toll in Gaza is rising, while the world’s leaders and media look away in search of a new story.…

Liam

January 22, 2009

2–3 minutes

Viva Palestina! leaving on Saturday 14 February 2009

A message from George Galloway

More than 1,300 dead – more than 400 of them children – and still they are dragging bodies from the ruins. The death toll in Gaza is rising, while the world’s leaders and media look away in search of a new story. We will not look away. The Palestinians in Gaza need our help now, just as they did when Israel’s bombs and illegal weapons were dropping.

Thousands of people have contacted me to say that they have marched, cried at the television pictures and feel helpless in the face of the suffering.

That’s why I have launched a major initiative in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I will be leading an aid convoy from London to Gaza leaving on 14 February and travelling through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and through Rafah and into Gaza. It will bring material aid and raise the banner of Palestine in all the countries that we visit.

The convoy will be led by a British fire engine, ambulances, and many trucks full of practical aid given by the various communities in Britain.

It is quite an undertaking, which I anticipate will have a high public profile throughout its journey and on its arrival in Gaza, god willing, some 30 days later.

The convoy is already supported by the Stop the War Coalition – which organised the largest demonstrations in British history – as well as the Anglo-Arab Organisation, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organisations. Fundraising for the convoy is taking place all over Britain.

We urgently need your help

1) Secure a vehicle, fill it with aid and get sponsorship to cover its costs to Gaza (approximately £3,000 for fuel and expenses). Many people are donating vehicles to leave there.

2) Money: please organise fundraisers, collections, donations which the convoy will get directly to the people of Gaza. Cheques should be made payable to “Lifeline for Gaza” and sent to Lifeline for Gaza c/o Flat 6, 1-2 Bowling Green Place, London SE1 1YL.
(Account numbers and bank details to follow.)

3) Collect: medicines within six months of their use by date as of 14 February, and clothes for children and adults.

4) We urgently need drivers with HGV licences and mechanics.

5) Due to visa arrangements all those coming on the convoy must have a British passport.

Please give whatever help you can – let’s send a lifeline from Britain to Gaza. email ghada@vivapalestina.org or call 07958 450 867

George Galloway

George Galloway MP

9 responses to “Viva Palestina! – Lifeline for Gaza aid convoy”

Infantile and Disorderly

January 22, 2009 at 11:04 pm

Comrades might be interested in this:

http://infantile-and-disorderly.blogspot.com/2009/01/were-occupying-man-met-for-night.html

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David Ellis

January 22, 2009 at 11:08 pm

This is why people love GG. Things like this. Unequivocal, principled, practical.

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Neil Williams

January 22, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Goes to show once again what just one good MP can achieve if you “think outside the box”!

Not just talk but practical action which will raise the profile of the Palestinian struggle throughout Europe and in the arab world.

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ID

January 23, 2009 at 10:12 am

Excellent. This is something the entire left should support and embrace as concrete action to bust the American and EU participation in Israel’s starvation blockade. It should cause major embarassment for Brown if the convoy arrives at the Gaza border just as British warships are helping Israel blockade Gaza again, as George Galloway pointed out in his speech in Walworth on Wedenesday night.

Hopefully there will be support from the Labour left as well as others outside the LP for this initiative.

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Will Brown

January 23, 2009 at 8:09 pm

Dave E – I’ve never met anyone who ‘loves George Galloway’ so its a first for me to meet them on this site.

There was a very interesting statement in todays FT from a representative of the Saudi ruling family. It said that Obama must make a radical change of direction in relation to Israel/Palestine otherwise popular pressure would force King Saud to withdraw sponsorship of the ‘1967 borders’ peace plan and would be minded to consider Iran’s call for jihad against Israel. The statement discussed Iran’s letter from the Iranian President to the King that was written a couple of weeks ago. An accompanying article from the FT described how a similar move from Saudi Arabia followed George W Bush’s election but the initiative was derailed by 9/11 to the great relief of Israel.

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Nas

January 23, 2009 at 9:31 pm

Will Brown – I saw that too. Meanwhile, what traction do you think commoners such as us might have on events unlike His Highness and the country cousin in occupying the Iranian presidency?

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Will Brown

January 23, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Nas – i guess I think that popular opinion is of some consequence even in the most autocratic of states. I know very little of domestic politics in Saudi Arabia and Iran. My understanding was that there is a measure of electoral democracy in Iran within the confines of what is considered Islamic law. That the current Iranian President was previously the Mayor of Tehran and was a surprise victor in the Presidential elections on an unexpectedly radical ticket. The Saudi Royal family cracked down hard on radical Islam following 9/11. I have heard Palestinians say in the last couple of weeks they believed there had been a sea-change in global interest in and support of the Palestinians. Looking at the demonstrations round the world on YouTube makes it look that way. BTW – I support Galloway’s convoy idea and thought he was good at the senate hearing – he just seems a bit self important and big headed to me – like most professional politicians. I’m not keen at looking up to important people.

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Nas

January 23, 2009 at 11:18 pm

I don’t understand at all, Will. oh well

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Hasta siempre comandante

January 24, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Even in dictatorships, public opinion is monitored by the security services. In Nazi Germany, the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) wrote reports on the public’s reaction to food rationing, Allied bombing and so on.

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