It was a truly historic moment! After a gruelling journey spanning over 8,000 kilometers, and lasting nearly a month; the Viva Palestina convoy finally reached Gaza after receiving permission from the Egyptian authorities to cross the Rafah borders.
Over 1 Million pounds worth of aid, over 100 vehicles and 300 volunteers from across Britain, on Monday 9 March/12 Rabiul Awwal, entered the blessed land of Palestine. Muslims and non Muslims from all corners of Britain came together, having watched the death and destruction reaped upon the people of Gaza by the Israeli war machine. They were moved by their humanity and stirred to do more then just demonstrate and picket - they wanted to provide a real lifeline for Gaza. Normal, simple, everyday men and women were moved and inspired to do something momentous. And despite all the obstacles in their way they succeeded. It goes to show, where there’s a will there is a way.
I listened to Galloway’s speech, and I was moved to tears. Someone once likened Gallloway to Marmite – you either love him or hate him, and it’s true many hate him. But ask the people of Gaza, what they think of Galloway. He stood in Gaza in amongst the rubble and destruction meted out by Israel and said to these heroes of resistance “We watched the agony, the pain, the tears of the Palestinian people under bombardment for 22 days and nights. We demonstrated in our hundreds of thousands in London, in Manchester, in Birmingham, in Glasgow, and in Edinburgh. We clashed with the police outside the Israeli embassy in London night after night after night! But we decided this was not enough! Our hearts were broken for you! And we decided that when our children ask us what did you do daddy, when this crime was being committed?, that we would be able to say we gave every breath that God gave us to try and come to the rescue of the people of Palestine.”
He had a message for the Muslim world, “That Britain is not your enemy, that Tony Blair does not speak for Britain, we speak for the British people!”
And he defied the political status quo, of isolating Hamas and the democratically elected government of the Palestinian people “We have brought with us many vehicles, much equipment much medicine, everything we could carry and we will hand it to Ismail Haniyyah the elected Prime Minister of Palestine! The US and Israel and Britain may not recognise Ismail Haniyyah as their Prime Minister, but he is the Prime Minister chosen by the people of Palestine. Ismail Haniyyah is our Prime minister!”
That the Viva Palestina convoy successfully reached Gaza – the Libyan President Colonel Gaddafi sent a further 100 vehicle convoy – has not really made it to the mainstream news broadcasters. Its quite telling that only Aljazeera and Press TV have covered this in any detail.
Maybe the BBC, ITV, SKY etc hate marmite too?
Great news. Any pics or clips you can upload here?
Alhamdulillah!
I was quite speechless when I saw and heard this news. How desperately we wanted our brothers and sisters in Gaza to know that they are not alone. How we prayed they would hear us shouting ‘we are all Palestinians’. I pray they will get some relief from the convoy and our brothers and sister return home safely.
However, everything may not be as it seems. I received some bad news this morning, please see below an email from a cousin who is at the Rafah crossings.
Salam.
I’ve spent 2days out at the border now…You might’ve of watched, the convoy has entered Gaza on Press TV, but don’t be fooled, it’s not all true. The Egyptian government used some of us to show the press that they are doing everything they can, it’s not true.
I’ve been beaten by the Egyptian police, attacked by Fatah & have been camping outside in the cold, yet they do nothing.
This lady has been at the border for two days, jus because she’s pregnant they won’t let her in.
Another Palestinian women & her four children have been at the border for many days to go & see here mother in hospital, they won’t let them through without any reason.. they’ve been sittin out in the cold all night..They have faith in God & are really strong & I don’t think any1 can break that….
I’ve been to the hospital to see injured Palestinians. It is clear that the Israelis have used illegal weapons.
I will keep on trying to get in as the Egyptians authority make rules every half hour…
Internet access is very hard here so I’ll try to keep u updated…
Thanks for this, a good read.
You wrote “But ask the people of Gaza, what they think of Galloway”. This is what i found here: http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/en/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7gAk29C%2bAD9uaP9SiYofd2nMaMbnPg26cxHbLEodS%2fHmBioZxEGOA%2fXte1qXqVU3p69G%2flRnIvXQOz5XXn4Xsnr8OuFruHS6pJkwtnCH39BY%3d
We salute you
Well, Mr. Galloway, on behalf of the Palestinian people and all free-minded men and women around the world, I salute you for being a voice for the voiceless and for speaking up loudly, eloquently and defiantly for truth and justice.
George: It is for upholding these sublime values that great men are created.
I salute you for challenging the forces of hypocrisy and moral duplicity back in Britain who instead of calling Israel, a criminal state ruled by an evil clique of war criminals, by its real name, hasten to blame the helpless victims for surviving the recent genocide in Gaza and for clinging to life, dignity and freedom.
I also salute you for being “non-conformist,” because in a world overwhelmed by hypocrisy, immorality, human depravity, unethical expediency, and repulsive political correctness, it takes a true non-conformist to uphold true human values.
And, above all, I salute you for exposing and putting to shame the treacherous Arab leaders who played their fiddle while Gaza was burning.
Sir, May God bless you.
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