History-making aid for Palestine reaches Gaza
Jul 15, 2009
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Entering Gaza.
Photo: www.vivapalestina-us.org
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July 15—The largest humanitarian aid convoy in history to travel from
the U.S. to Palestine succeeded in crossing the Rafah border into Gaza late
today. After days of delay, the 218-person contingent of activists, buoyed by
telegrams, emails and protests from many parts of the world, was finally
allowed to pass into the besieged Palestinian enclave with more than $1 million
in wheelchairs, walkers and medical supplies for the people of Gaza.
A genocidal attack on Gaza in December and January, on top of a two-year
Israeli siege and blockade of the area, prompted British Member of Parliament
George Galloway to organize the Viva Palestina caravans as a way to provide
essential aid to a people under occupation who have been denied the most basic
necessities of life.
The fact that this caravan hails from the U.S. gives it added resonance, as
Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. government aid in the world. And Israel
uses U.S. weapons and missiles against the Palestinian people on a daily
basis.
The delegation received a heroes’ welcome from the people of Gaza. Its
members include Galloway, New York City Council Member Charles Barron and
former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney, who was imprisoned just a few
weeks earlier by Israeli forces for attempting to bring aid into Gaza by sea
with the Free Gaza Movement. Also participating are representatives of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Middle East Children’s Alliance,
Cuba Coalition, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano
de Aztlán (MEChA), International Action Center, the Answer Coalition,
International Socialist Organization and Workers World Party.
—Information from John Parker in Gaza
