Ecumenical Accompaniers join Gaza convoy and protest
Participants in the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) joined a countrywide Palestinian-Israeli humanitarian relief convoy of 100 cars and 20 busses, on Saturday, 26 January 2008, in response to the Israeli government blockade of Gaza.
The day included demonstrations inside Gaza, in Ramallah and around the world demanding a complete end to the blockade.
The convoy of supplies organised by Israeli and Palestinian peace and human rights organisations set out from Nazareth, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva to the Gaza Strip border, decked with signs "Lift the Blockade!"
Earlier this week the government of Israel agreed to allow very limited supplies of fuel into Gaza and announced further cuts in electricity. Palestinians breached the southern border with Egypt last week in an effort to purchase food and supplies. The situation there awaits resolution.
People in the convoy brought sacks of flour, food supplies and other essential products, especially water filters for use in Gaza where water supplies are polluted with nitrates at a level ten times the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation. (The Israeli blockade caused a critical shortage of water filters, creating an intolerable violation of minimum humanitarian standards.)
Organisers of the convoy appealed to the Israeli army for immediate permission for the goods to be allowed into the Gaza Strip. As of Monday, the supplies were still in a warehouse at Kibbutz Kerem Shalom awaiting army clearance to cross. Gush Shalom representatives were in negotiation with the Army and were trying to get support from Members of the Knesset. They also have an appeal prepared to go to the Supreme Court if permission is refused.
The Israeli supreme court is already considering a wider appeal made last week by Israeli humanitarian organisations, asking that the court compels the government to lift its blockade on Gaza.
Participating organisations included:
Gush Shalom, Combatants for Peace, Coalition of Women for Peace, ICAHD - The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Bat Shalom, Bat Tzafon for Peace and Equality, Balad, Hadash, Adalah, Tarabut- Hithabrut, Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, AIC - The Alternative Information Center, Psychoactive - Mental Health Workers for Human Rights, ActiveStills, The Students Coalition (Tel Aviv University), New Profile, MachsomWatch, PCATI - The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Yesh Gvul, Gisha, Local Television on the Internet, Committee for Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue, "On the Left Side", Faculty for Palestinian-Israeli Peace (Israel).
