Stuck in Aqaba! Photos

A few photos from the convoy's protest in Aqaba.

We hope to share more soon.

Photos by F. Stevens-Smith

Convoy Update!

Hi everyone, sorry again that I'm not able to reply to all your emails.

Just thought I'd send out a quick update.

We weren't able to cross into Egypt from Aqaba, and so have had to drive back up to Syria. We're staying in the Palestinian refugee camp in the port town of Lattakia. We've been here the past 3 days. The Palestinians here have been incredible. So hospitable, taking many of us in, giving us beds in their homes, feeding us, letting us shower in their houses and even insisting on washing our clothes!

Said goodbye to our aid vehicles yesterday. They have to be shipped to Egypt separately. Everyone is a bit anxious. We will hopefully be meeting them again in Egypt soon. The first batch of 150 people are being flown to Egypt tomorrow 4am.

Hopefully we'll all be allowed into Gaza with all the medical and educational aid.

I hope you're all well and had a great Christmas and new year!
If you have time to call / email the Egyptians to ask them to allow us safe passage to Gaza, that would be great.

Lots of Love,
N

Impressions from Gaza

Wow. Impressions from my past few days in Gaza are impossible to wrap up in one short blog post. However, I'll try to highlight some general reflections so far..

Gaza Team: Our delegation here is full of inspiring people of all kinds. Fareed Bitar, a palestinian phychotherapist musician who especially works with traumatised kids, Pete a british psychotherapist working at the Palestinian Trauma Centre, a woman working at Orphanage in Gaza, two people from UK Amnesty International working at Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, 5 anti-zionist Rabbis, a venezuelan film-producer making a documentary on 'ressistance and oppression' for a venezuelanb TV station, photographers, journalists, palestinians coming to reunite with their families, and many many more.

Gaza Freedom March: YES, we did. WE crossed the Erez border. The atmosphere at the march was the most empowering and europhoric I've ever experienced. Peace marchers of all backgrounds, all countries, all religions, all ages marching together chanting, singing and playing music with one single humanitarian goal in common: a free gaza and an end of the siege. We marched together internationals and palestinians all the way the border with Israel, when we reached the border the palestinian marchers stopped, but the international code pink delegates continued across the border another 1-200 meters where we sat down withour banners peacefully singing "We shall overcome.. because deep in our hearts, we do believe, that Gaza will be free someday". At the front were the 5 Rabbis, functioning as human shield. Hamas Minister of Social Affairs made a speech higlighting this symbolic border-crossing as a unique historical moment. Suddenly we heard Israeli warning shooting in the distance, and we all hurried back to the busses. However, it must be noted that because the march had been organised by Hamas, all NGOs in Gaza boycotted the march and all palestinian women's organisations were prohibited form taking part, which no doubt made the march MUCH less powerfull than the simultaneous one in Cairo.

Destruction: Walking through Gaza City you pass one destroyed building after another, making it seem completely desgusting and incomprehensible have the Goldstone Report has not been implemented when the evidences of israeli war crimes are right in front of you everywhere in here. 5356 palestinian homes were either completely or partially destroyed during Operation Cast Lead last December, and standing inside one of them earlier today the plight went straight to my heart, and could not help bursting into tears. The most ironic sight was the remaining ruins of the International American School; funded by US governement, bombed by US-funded Israeli war crimes and now being cleaned up and rebuild by Caterpillar.

New Years Eve: I definitely had the New Years party of my life when we celebrating entering 2010 in a parc in Gaza with performance of the underground palestinian ressitance hiphip band Darg Team. Had we not been there this party, organised by Hamas would never have taken place. As our friend Ahmed put it, "you know we normally never have any reason to party and celebrate new years eve like this in Gaza, but now that you are here are just so happy because we know that you support us." Everyone, kids, young and old, were dancing, singing and laughing perhaps for a moment forgetting about their daily life under blockade. That evening definitely make going on that bus from cairo to Gaza all worth it. I cannot imagine how dissapointed people in Gaza would have been had none of us made it here.

Hamas: Many ambivalent views. They have given us a very warm welcome and taken really good care of us while we've been here, taking us on escorted tours everywhere. I definitely believe that the "terrorist" image they have in the international community needs to be changed and world leaders need to cooperate more closely with them instead labeling as extremists. Talking to several palestinians it has become more and more clear to me how much good they have done to help the palestinians of Gaza, and if the international community want to do the same they essentially need to work more closely with Hamas. Earlier today, they had arranged a football match for us; CodePink versus Hamas. The most surreal experience ever. Yet, my initial positive view of them quickly changed as they 'politely' came up to us female delegates and said " no women on the pitch please, it would be embarrasing for us to play against you". Moreover, meeting up with a women's NGO later this evening, who told me about how Hamas has banned their free operation, closed down their offices, forbidden "lessons about warnings of early marriage" in girl schools in Gaza and introduced hijabs for all school girls, and indirectly increased the amount of domestic violence and multiple-wife marriages, only made me feel more sceptical.. Thus, I believe the dilemma is how to push the international community to collaborate further with Hamas, rather than regarding their "Islamic project" as national security threats (namely Egypt and Israel), whilst being concerned about Hamas' violations of women's rights in Gaza. Alas, I had wished CodePink as a women's organisation would have made a bigger political statement out of that whilst we were living under Hamas' wings in Gaza. In Gaza I met people who were strongly for and strongly against Hamas' political rule, yet no one mentioned what's perceived internationally as their dangerous "islamic project", but contrarily even those against Hamas liked their strong political connection with Islam, which is something many palestinians use to generate hope in a truly hopeless situation. The divide is approx 60 % for, 40% against, and the head of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (www.pchrgaza.com) argued that it is precisely this interna disunity which makes it even more difficult for the palestinians in Gaza to receive internatinal support for their cause.

Children: I visited a palestinian family this morning, a big house full of children. I felt so welcome in their house and their hospitality seemed so warm and genuine. They made me the biggest feat of a meal ever and almost ended up giving me more gifts that I had brought for them. Sadly, many of their stories were tragic and heart-rendering, talking about how the war last december affected them, how depended they are on getting things in through the tunnels, how worried they are about the egyptian iron wall. While I was there the electricity went off, as it does for some palestinian homes 4 days a week. The father of the family explained that most palestinian families have at least 5 children, as they know at least 2 out of them will die early. He said that the only games his children ever played were war games of palestinians versus israelis shooting with toy guns and throwing with stones."My kids are not militant terrorists as many newspapers write, they are simply the product of what the Israeli occupation has made them".... He explained that most kids in Gaza are deeply traumatised.

Palestinian Trauma Center in Gaza: Pete from the UK has offered me to stay in Gaza a few days longer to assist him at a center working with traumatised kids in Gaza, the same center that Kat and I have decided to donate the money you all helped us raise to. I believe the work they do is some of the most important humanitarian work for the palestinians in post-war Gaza. please read more about the center on their website:http://www.ptcgaza.com/

Students: I don't think I've ever met more ambitious and motivated students than the students from the Islamic University of Gaza. They all had big plans for their futures and were desperate to stay up all night to have long intense intellectual debates with all of us. Ahmed for one, dreams of becoming a Doctor in the UK one day. A bunch of students, including Ahmed Elraai (a friend of Abbas from Warwick uni!) grabbed hold of me one evening and we sat down to talk about setting up a buddy-scheme with students from Warwick and to try to negotiate with our university to grant scholarships and admissions letters to students in Gaza to come study in Warwick. I believe any university in the world would benefit MASSIVELY from allowing them out of Gaza and into their education system - they would make the most out of it, unlike any other student.

Palestinians: The Palestinian people have gone beyond all my expectations. They are so alive, warm people full of energy, hope and friendliness despite the tragic conditions under which they live. If only they had the right and opportunity to travel the world so that everyone would get the chance to meet the palestinians, I am convinced the world would be a better place. All the palestinians I met both young and older were bright, open-minded, reflective and politicised people with opinions about every single issue in any part of the world. When I told people I was from Denmark, many people told me they really appreciated my support despite the negative view's of my country's islamophobic foreign policy, as was seen during the cartoon crisis. During several visits around Gaza, I managed to convince several palestinians to shake hands and make peace with the 5 rabbis in our delegation, which they to my pleasant surprise had no difficulty with - "The Jews are our brothers, it is the Israeli government that is our enemy", as they righlty clarified. They were full of ambitions and aims they wanted to achieve and believed they could achieve if they fought hard enough for it. I believe one (inofficial) reason for the Israeli siege of Gaza is the Israel's fear of the potential powerfulness of the palestinian people.

Tunnels and the Egyptian Iron Wall: By far the majority of all fruit and vegetables (with the exception of amazingly tasty gazan strawberries), as well IT hardware, kitchenware, furniture and many other essential living goods are brought in to the people of gaza through the tunnels. The family i visited pointed out which of their belongings were tunnel goods which ended up being almost everything, such as their one refrigerator. This great dependance on tunnel transportation of fundamental goods needed for decent living standards only makes the building of an egyptian "iron wall" even more disastrous, and many of the palestinians I talked to were very scared of how this would impact their lives, suddenly only having access to an even more limited amount of food, medicine, as well as educational supplies. When talking to egyptians in Cairo, they all explained the building of the wall as a necessary response to the national security threat the Israeli siege of gaza poses on Egypt, by trapping the palestinians in Gaza and indirectly causing a major outflux of palestinians through the tunnels and into egypt. However, whilst some egyptians blamed Israel for this scenario, most claimed that the palestinians themselves are to blame as they were the ones who democratically elected Hamas into power, and because it is Hamas so-perceived "Islamic project" that the Israeli siege is a response to. So it seems like a never-ending ping-pong of accusations and denying responsibility between Israel and Egypt, with the palestinians as the victims.

Going to Gaza was not an act of heroism, and I do not wish to portray it as that. Contrarily what our limited delegation carried out in Gaza was our obligation to show the Palestinian people our solidarity, respect and willingness to help them fulfill their dreams.

Thank you SO much for all your support and lovely messages.

Much love, Marie

Direct from Gaza!

Dear all,
I'm now writing from GAZA! The two CodePink busses of 100 delegates made it past the Raffah border at midnight this evening. I cannot describe how incredible it felt driven straight past a wide open border. It almost all seemed too easy.

The group of freedom marchers is full of inspiring people from everywhere; Palestine, Canada, South Africa, Turkey, USA, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Lebanon, China, and 4 Othodox Rabbis (Jews for justice)! Their projects and profesions are everything from journalism, film production, writers, doctors, phychotherapists, social workers, teachers, and palestinians who wish to reunite with their families.

Finally deciding to going on the bus was one of the toughest decision I have ever made. I cannot put words to how terrible I felt when the bus was leaving and they were people standing by the bus stop screaming and crying "traitors" at the busses. Kat and I both fully agree that President compromise only allowing 100 out of 1362 activists into Gaza is a completely unfair deal! And the entire rushed undemocratic procedure through which delegates were chosen to be on the list (reminding everyone of horrors of Schlindler's List and Apartheid) was emotionally torturous for everyone.

However, ultimately the aim of our project is to attempt to break the siege for the sake of the palestinians in Gaza. This is the altruistic end we must focus on, not the individual claims of democracy and egalitarian principles of 'everyone or no one'. Sadly, this project had to be restrained within the realm of RealPolitik due to an egyptian police state led by Mubarak and his wife (hiding behind a propagande-infiltrated interest in women and peace). We couldn't let the busses leave without at least one of us being on it to go to Gaza and make a further step towards the breaking of the siege. However, we were both torn, so Kat decided to stay and I to go.

Being here I do feel like a traitor, and I don't believe I deserve this place. Most importantly, I really wished Kat was here with me. Yet, I was jsut on the phone to our friend Ahmed and he was laughing of happiness and can't wait to join us all at the march tomorrow! That made me believe we made the right decision afterall.

We received an incredibly warm welcome by the Palestinian Gaza Freedom March Leader and Hamas. The two busses passing the Raffah border was NOT the breaking of the siege, however it was indeed a step towards opening the borders of Gaza to the rest of the world.

Peace to you all, Marie

Kat: Cairo, Marie: Gaza

Hello everyone,
Ok so I'm alone now in Cairo. I wanted to write what happened this morning it was pretty awful. 

Marie and I were feeling a bit weird about being part of 'The 100' who were going. it was a really shit decision that was made within about 10 minutes about who would go. nothing was discussed, nobody elected and as a result certain people who should've gone were not on the official list. for example, there are a bunch of south africans here and only 2 of them were going compared to 34 americans. 

it just so happened that marie and i were at the right place the right time. too fucking lucky and were on the list. 

the deal was that 2 buses would be able to go to gaza. only two, which really isnt enough. Code Pink agreed to the deal, but later said it was a mistake they made. it seems like they have no idea what they are doing, don't have a clear leadership and are shit at ocmmunicating. 

anyway there was massive dissent and huge division were created along very opinionated lines. ppl were shouting, accusing of betrayal, crying, screaming literally hating. no more solidarity. 

when we got on the second bus, the ppl on the first bus got off and we then also got off, we decided to. we then soon left the scene because it was too horrible to stay. 2 hours later though we went back and the buses were still there. at this point it was an "anyone can go" policy, which is a little ridiculous. but marie and i decided that she will go and i will stay. 
1) she really needs to, she wants to work in development and she's got the right mind for it. 
2) there are still 1000 ppl here and we're doing more stuff in cairo, pressuring harder so i might stay here, but i dunno. i feel quite shit right now and very low. 

Im really happy Marie is there, she also wanted it more than I did at that point, I was too drawn into the politics of it all. 

I must say that I am honestly shocked by all of this. It seems as though everyone has forgotten why we are here. It's too divided now and I don't know what to do. I regret not getting on the bus, but I couldn't do it. Not under these circumstances and I am sorry But Marie is there and I am so pleased that she has gone. 

Thank you all though. We also felt that we owe it to you that we go. You've been amazing, you really have. 

Kat

29/12/09 To Gaza!

Code Pink has been permitted access to Gaza for 100 delegates for 48 hours only.
This has been arranged by President Mubarak's wife, who apparently is quite into women issues and organisations etc. (she has a women's foundation). However, this is not certain and there is a chance we may not board the bus, but fingers crossed.

Marie and I managed to get on the last, pretty much through being at the right place the right time rather than anything else. Apparently the Code Pink ppl were given 2 hours to decide who should go on the bus. This message started to circulate as a rumour, then happened to be fact while we were all at a demonstration. As a result, bus seats were handed out on a first come first serve basis.


We are meeting tomorrow morning at 7am,... and it's quite hard to believe we are actually going. Another Warwick student, Andrew, who was an active student at uni during the 70s is coming with us. He is a psychotherapist and within the 48hrs we have will be training people in Gaza at the Palestine Trauma Centre on how to deal and help traumatised children. There was an article in the Guardian about this particular issue, so Marie and I are considering giving our donations towards this specific charity. Please let us know your thoughts.


We'll be taking pictures, contacting students and filming. We'll be back in 48 hours prepare for update.

Thank you for all your support.
Kat & Marie

Email received 29/12/09 from another student currently in Cairo.

Dear all

PLEASE DISSEMINATE WIDELY

1,300 international activists gathered in Cairo hoping to take part in a historic march in Gaza to break the Israeli siege have been prevented from leaving Cairo to reach the Rafah border. The Egyptian government, having previously agreed to allow the delegation, which is taking aid to the impoverished Gaza strip, to cross the border, is now showing its true colours and cracking down on the peaceful attempts by activists to raise attention to the plight of Gazans and to demand that they be allowed to enter Gaza. Egyptian state security and police have been beating international demonstrators as they gather outside their respective embassies to appeal for help, and arresting Egyptian journalists trying to report on the actions.

Meanwhile, the Viva Palestina convoy, which is carrying desperately needed medical aid to the strip, was kept waiting at the port of Aqaba in Jordan for five days, its cargo rapidly spoiling in the heat, due to the Egyptian government's refusal to allow them entrance to Egypt through the port of Nuweiba (the fastest route to the Rafah border crossing). The convoy have now agreed to return to Syria where they will sail from Latakia to the port of Al-Arish on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, where Egypt says it will grant them entry and passage to Gaza.

Meanwhile Egyptian state security are continuing their repression of Egyptian pro-Palestinian activists, who marked the anniversary of the attacks on Gaza last year with a peaceful candlelit vigil in Downtown Cairo on the 27th. Protesters, many of them women and young people, were beaten by police and even senior security officials, and their cameras stolen.

Egypt's complicity in the Israeli siege on Gaza is becoming harder and harder for the Mubarak regime to hide. Whilst loudly declaiming their solidarity with their Palestinian 'brothers' and clinging to their reputation in the West as a 'moderate' Arab regime, the Egyptian government has begun construction of a wall on its border with Gaza which will destroy the tunnels used to bring food and other vital necessities into the impoverished strip, and is consistently clamping down violently on all grassroots Egyptian support for the Palestinians.

Egypt must stop colluding in Israel's crippling siege of innocent Gazan citizens, and the US must stop funding the corrupt and repressive Mubarak regime.

Please write to your representatives, foreign offices etc, and to the Egyptian embassy in your country to express your disgust at their cooperation in this bloody affair.