LONDON: On Sunday, December 3, the third ‘Viva Palestina’ convoy departed London in an effort to offer a ‘lifeline’ to the people of Gaza.

The ‘Return to Gaza’, as the convoy has been nicknamed, consists of 300 volunteers, all of whom have donated this December to ensuring that emergency vehicles, medicine and other valuable resources reach the Gazans, who are living under a continuing Israeli blockade.

Viva Palestina spokesperson Alice Howard spoke to Bikya Masr, highlighting the spirit of the departure, saying, “the atmosphere was electric! Hundreds of supporters all turned up in the pouring rain to wish us farewell.”

The convoy, which left London at 11:30 AM (local time), was founded by the Respect Party Member of British Parliament George Galloway in response to the 2008-2009 Israeli invasion of Gaza. Galloway was at the departure and explained the importance of the ‘Return to Gaza’ stating that the “convoys are symbolic, totemic; they’re supposed to inspire public opinion to demand an end to the siege.”

Currently traveling through Italy, the Viva Palestina convoy is due to arrive at the Rafah Border Crossing to Gaza on the 27^th of December, a date that is symbolic as it marks the anniversary of the first Israeli attacks to hit the Gazan population last year.

The convoy participants are all ordinary members of society, with ages ranging from 18 to 70, and all of whom, Howard told Bikya Masr, “have donated their lives to deliver humanitarian aid for Gaza.”

When asked what the convoy would do, if denied entry to Gaza, the the spokeswoman said, “we will wait in the desert until we get through!”

When questioned about the relevance and importance of the Viva Palestina initiative, representatives of the charity told Bikya Masr that “Israel has placed severe restrictions on what can enter Gaza, leaving its trapped population desperately short of essentials such as food, clean water and medical supplies,” adding that “steel and concrete are also denied entry, leaving Gazans unable to rebuild the 8,000 homes that were destroyed during Israel’s assault, or reconstruct their devastated infrastructure.”

Viva Palestina added that “1.5 million Palestinians are blockaded in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (June 2009) says they are ‘trapped in despair’.” The organizers of the convoy also told Bikya Masr that delivering aid “is crucial for the Gazans to help restore and rebuild lives and will restore faith back into humankind.”

Viva Palestina is a registered charity whose objective is twofold: to provide food, medicine and essential goods and services needed by the civilian population from the UK and to highlight the causes and results of wars with a view to achieving peace.

**You can follow the route of the convoy here

BM

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