Riot Police attack UK humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza
Undercurrents | 05.01.2010 23:10 | Palestine | Sheffield | World
Kevin Ovenden, Viva Palestina Convoy Leader released the following press release today
Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish.This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.
He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port.We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.
The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.
We are now calling upon all friends of Palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy’s and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!
Swansea women wrote
'Full-on battles between convoy boys and Egyptian riot cops. Tear gas, water cannons, rocks throwing and Riot cops have moved their barriers and look to be gearing up 4 a fight. Our boys preparing to defend the port.
Supporters in the UK are contacting the Egyptian Embassy in the UK on 02074993304. One woman said 'When I asked them why the convoy was not allowed through they just said ring back in the morning. I'll keep ringing!
Our situation is now at a crisis point! Riot has broken out in the port of Al- Arish.This late afternoon we were negotiating with a senior official from Cairo who left negotiations some two hours ago and did not return. Our negotiations with the official was regarding taking our aid vehicles into Gaza.
He left two hours ago and did not come back. Egyptian authorities called over 2,000 riot police who then moved towards our camp at the port.We have now blocked the entrance to the port and we are now faced with riot police and water cannons and are determined to defend our vehicles and aid.
The Egyptian authorities have by their stubbornness and hostility towards the convoy, brought us to a crisis point.
We are now calling upon all friends of Palestine to mount protests in person where possible, but by any means available to Egyptian representatives, consulates and Embassy’s and demand that the convoy are allowed a safe passage into Gaza tomorrow!
Swansea women wrote
'Full-on battles between convoy boys and Egyptian riot cops. Tear gas, water cannons, rocks throwing and Riot cops have moved their barriers and look to be gearing up 4 a fight. Our boys preparing to defend the port.
Supporters in the UK are contacting the Egyptian Embassy in the UK on 02074993304. One woman said 'When I asked them why the convoy was not allowed through they just said ring back in the morning. I'll keep ringing!
Undercurrents
Homepage:
http://www.swanseapalestine.org
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Latest news from the Port
05.01.2010 23:37
'All quiet for now. Six arrested, lots of head wounds as cops started the rock throwing. One serious injury stretchered out.'
Undercurrents
guess not
05.01.2010 23:40
does not compute
ah well ...
06.01.2010 07:52
The Egyptian people will express themselves on the streets following this insult shouted out in their name.
This propped up zionist poodle will pay for its poor choice of friends.
Gaza will be free and free people will ensure it. Inevitable.
jackslucid
Egyptian State Terrorism
06.01.2010 11:54
I hope the Egyptian people rise up soon and get rid of the Dicatator Mubarak and all his dirty little minions.
Little John
Meanwhile, the useful idiots' Hamas friends murder an Egyptian policeman
06.01.2010 14:07
Jan. 6, 2010
Associated Press , THE JERUSALEM POST
Egyptian security officials on Wednesday said a border guard was shot dead in a scuffle with Palestinians along the Gaza border.
One official said Wednesday that the border guard was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper while Gazan youths hurled stones across the border at the Egyptian security forces. A second official said the guard died from his gunshot wounds at the nearby military hospital.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Hundreds Palestinians showered the Egyptian security forces across the border with stones on Wednesday after authorities there refused to allow part of a convoy to cross through its territory into the Gaza Strip.
Shots were also heard on both sides of the border.
The stone throwing came after international pro-Gaza activists and Egyptian security clashed at the nearby Mediterranean port of El-Arish the night before when Egypt refused to allow part of the convoy to pass.
The intermittent clashes at the port lasted for a couple of hours and left more than 50 activists and over a dozen members of the security forces injured. Activists briefly seized some policemen as well.
The clashes add to the embarrassment of Egypt, which has come under fire from Arab and Muslim groups for cooperating with Israel in its 28-month blockade of the impoverished territory. The blockade was imposed after Hamas violently seized control of the territory from the forces of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
More than 500 international activists accompanied the convoy organized by the British-based group Viva Palestina, bringing tons of humanitarian supplies, as well as vehicles, to Gaza. The group includes British, American, Jordanian and Turkish activists and lawmakers.
The scuffle broke out late Tuesday at al-Arish port building when authorities told the organizers that out of the nearly 200 vehicles, some 59 can't enter Gaza through Egypt, but must go through Israeli terminals.
A security official said the vehicles in question are carrying pickup trucks, sedans, generators and other equipment, which are not allowed to pass through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah and had to go via Israel. Only medical aid and passengers are allowed through, the official said.
British MP George Galloway told Sky News television that the activists were negotiating with authorities and refusing to leave behind their vehicles.
"We refused this because it's a breach of the agreement which we reached," he said. "It is completely unconscionable that 25 percent of our convoy should go to Israel and never arrive in Gaza, because nothing that goes to Israel ever arrives in Gaza." [BLOOD LIE ALERT]
Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said the rules were clear from the start, and accused the activists of coordinating with Hamas to create problems. He said the private automobiles are not considered humanitarian goods, and must enter from Israel.
"We didn't mislead anyone. They have their interests ... and they want to make up problems and clash with Egypt," he told The Associated Press.
Egyptian authorities had already refused the convoy entry into the country from the Red Sea, forcing it to change course to the Mediterranean port.
"We are activists. We condemn the Israeli siege to start with. We will only enter through an Egyptian-Palestinian crossing," said Wael al-Sakka, a Jordanian activist.
Alice Howard, a spokeswoman for the group, said organizers were negotiating with an Egyptian security official, who said he would come back with answers. But instead, 2,000 riot police returned, spraying the activists with water cannons, and hurling rocks.
Television reports showed images of both riot police and activists hurling stones at each other and said clashes began when angry protesters attempted to leave the port area and were driven back by riot police.
Howard, speaking from London, said more than 50 activists were injured in the scuffle, including to the head and neck. The group's Web site showed images of injured activists.
An Egyptian security official said the activists used two trucks to block the port gates, burned tires, and briefly detained a police officer and four of his men. They were later released, some with broken ribs.
The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Al-Sakka, the Jordanian activist, said the police charged a peaceful sit-in at the gates of the port. He said the group was not allowed to get out of the port building, denying government claims they have took control of the premise.
"The Egyptians were too high-strung. The police is the reason for the tension," al-Sakka said.
He said six activists were detained, including Americans and British citizens. The security official said five were detained, but didn't identify them. US embassy officials did not immediately have information on the arrests.
Rules were clear from the start.
When will they ever learn?
06.01.2010 14:22
Davisupp
Looks like the shills are on overtime today
06.01.2010 15:30
Altogether now "Oh shill can we see by the dawns early light..."etc.
Joseph
interesting semantics (not)
06.01.2010 18:15
Perhaps we should shower praise on your friends, controllers and or paymasters in the IDF for acting as 'do-baders' , which no doubt you see as being good.
What a twisted world you live in.
jackslucid
@joe and jackslucid
07.01.2010 17:54
anon
no ...
26.01.2010 17:00
jackslucid
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