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Folks, it’s crunch time. Tomorrow we enter the last leg of this journey. For those of us who started in the UK, the experience of the last 3 weeks comes into perspective. Cold nights, long delays, getting lost, miscommunication, press conference after press conference, and any other trivial discomfort transforms into a necessary prerequisite to breaking the siege this Sunday. Of all the convoy challenges, the next 4 days will define our solidarity and test our commitment to entering Gaza.
Surely I cannot share details as it would compromise the success of our convoy. Leaving Amman places us back on the road in the hands of Jordanian authorities and soon in the hands of the Egyptians. If we thought we had faced discomfort in Europe, what awaits us in Egypt is far worse. We are entering the belly of the beast. Some people who were on previous convoys have described the attitudes and actions of the Egyptian authorities as rivaling that of the Israeli Zionists. If that is truely the case, and I believe it to be given the account we reported this past July, then we are in for a quite a ride.
The first convoy last February encountered a series of diversions and problems. One account tells of people coming up to vans and writing disgusting things in Arabic to embarrass the convoy upon entrance to Gaza. Authorities asked for multiple documents and made multiple checks of identification, aid and luggage. Various checkpoints every couple hundred miles made for long days.
We’ve been advised to carry extra water and food. We’ve been briefed on what to say and not to say. Things change on the hour and the possibility of all us being on the same page throughout every change in plans is uncertain. This convoy is huge.
This is the last leg of the journey. If and when we reach Gaza, a different journey begins. An enlightened journey backed by a first hand account of the atrocities in Gaza. First hand account to the stories of hope amongst people stripped of all opportunity. A new journey that will lead to over 300 people returning with the confidence to show others that when a Zionist stands up and opens his/her mouth they spew loads of garbage. Their words… mere myth; a constructed reality by a movement based on the most racist ideology.
Obtaining Cameras in Amman for Gaza's Children | Photo: Tom Middleton
We hope to bring joy to the youth in Gaza. The American team came up with an idea to provide about 100 disposable cameras to children in order to get them to take pictures and then return them to us for development. To see what sorts of things they would want to capture on film. We’ll give them the copies and take home the negatives. Soccer matches and winning prizes as well as distribution of toys will take place.
Remember to demonstrate on the 27th. Show your solidarity. Apply the pressure and perhaps you’ll get an update from inside the Gaza strip.
To Christmas at the Egyptian border and touching Palestinian soil,
Adriano
Tags: children, convoy, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Viva Palestina, Zionism
9:51 pm. Viva Palestina.
Ream and I are living daily through your experiences. Going to work and washing dishes at home are such meaningless endeavors compared with what you and the Viva Palestina convoy is doing.
GIve our best to everyone on the convoy you talk to.
Gotta get Tom in front of the camera some times though