Miles From Gaza: Part 1
by Adriano Contreras | Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Perhaps I was a bit optimistic in thinking that I’d arrive on schedule to (at least) the Rafah border in Egypt. Since Christmas Eve we’ve been in Aqaba, Jordan the port city in the south.

Aqaba is a beautiful tourist town on the coast of the Red Sea. Its backdrop are these mesmerizing mountains. Depending on the time of day, the sun brings out different mountain peaks into the foreground. Across the Red Sea we can see the beginning of Egypt and the end of Occupied Palestine (Israel). You can only imagine the look on my face when I was admiring the view and was then told what I was staring at. A mix of shock, discomfort, and anger. And then a smile. I had gotten a glimpse of the very land I was fighting to liberate.

So that’s a bit Aqaba. The people are exceptional. But first lets get to the situation the convoy finds itself in.

Viva Palestina was to set sail at 1AM on Christmas morning to the port city of Nuweiba, Egypt. It would have then given us 2 days to get to the Rafah border, instead the Egyptian government intimidated the Ferry boat owner to not allow us through. Negotiations continue between Egyptian officials and the leadership of Viva Palestina. In fact our side has gained significant fire-power in the likes of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Malaysian members of parliament, and other respected officials.

I suspect that Egypt is delaying us at least until the date of the anniversary of the massacre in Gaza passes. That sort of victory for us is one thing Egypt and Israel are determined to prevent. I believe we will make it to Gaza, the question right now remains what date.

Egypt has pulled out its arsenal of tricks and delaying tactics. From allowing only the Turks on the convoy to advance onto Egyptian soil (a divide and conquer strategy) to making the convoy drive hundreds of miles back to Syria to sail to a different port city in Egypt (in turn drain us of money and time).

1. The Turks on the convey have immense solidarity to this mission. They would never leave us.
2. We could drive to Syria and then not be allowed to board there.
3. The port in Syria cannot handle all of our vehicles at once. We’d have to hire 5 boats to make the trip. A severe blow to Viva Palestina’s resources.
4. The conditions of sailing to Al Arish from Syria requires we hand over our aid to a UN human aid organization. Which in turns negotiates with Israel as to what aid enters Gaza. Um… hell no.

We will not given in to these petty alternatives. Nor will we allow Egypt to lie to the world and say that the border of Gaza is open (as they have said in the media) and then deny us the ability to get onto Egyptian soil. They want to look like they’re honest and have opened the doors to us, when we clearly can’t sail and know they say one thing at 3PM and another at 9PM.

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Along the route to Aqaba we had 3 receptions from the bedouins. The poorest of Jordanian Arab welcomed us with food and celebrations. The American bus spent an hour greeting kids and playing soccer (futbol, for the internationals). I met a 15 year old who said he’s been driving for 10 years. He drives his father’s rug business truck and can lift a 14 foot long carpet with his tiny arms. I feel very comfortable in the Middle East and would think the same even if I weren’t displaying the Viva Palestina t-shirt everywhere I went.

Miles from Gaza, this is where we find ourselves today, December 26, 2009. In limbo. Egypt won’t let us in and who knows when the welcome by Jordan will end. We haven’t experienced any delays or tricks from the Jordanian government since that struggle on the highway outside Amman. The outpour of support from ordinary Jordanians continues to grow each day we are here.

Tags: convoy, egypt, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Viva Palestina

9:05 am. Viva Palestina.