Delay in shipping Gaza aid convoy to Egypt



The Gaza aid convoy, which was due to sail yesterday to Egypt, remains stuck in the Syrian port of Latakia.

The ship contracted to uplift the 400 convoyers and their 150-aid packed vehicles is berthed at Latakia.

But the ship's Greek owners have been raising new demands and changing their negotiating positions "erratically", reports convoy director Kevin Ovenden.

For instance, the shipping company suddenly demanded a much higher price for passengers than previously agreed, yet later declared that no passengers could board their ship.

The ship's owners and convoy leaders, who have been locked in negotiations for several days, are still far from settlement.

Mr Ovenden questions whether "forces who are against us" are behind the shipping company's erratic negotiating style, which is foreign to normal commercial practices.

While Mr Ovenden does not specify who those "forces" might be, Israel obviously has a high stake in stopping or sabotaging the Gaza aid mission.

The extreme actions that Tel Aviv is prepared to take against Gaza solidarity convoys was seen last May when Israeli commandos stormed the Gaza aid ship Mavi Marmara, shooting dead nine civilian volunteers and wounding 50 more.

40 survivors of that deadly assault on the Mavi Marmara are taking part in the present Gaza land convoy, which also includes a six-person Kiwi Team fielded by Kia Ora Gaza.

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) is now making thinly veiled threats about being "prepared for the flotilla", meaning the land convoy's sea leg from Syria to Egypt.

"The IDF is prepared for the flotilla, although it is expected to travel to Al-Arish, Egypt rather than try and reach Gaza," an IDF source told Israeli daily paper The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. Source: http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=191714

"Powerful forces want to derail this convoy, and are attempting to do so now," Mr Ovenden stated last night at a mass meeting of aid volunteers at their convoy camp in Latakia, Syria.

"If it was easy to get aid to Gaza, everyone would go to Gaza and there would be no problems," Mr Ovenden said.

Roger Fowler, captain of the Kiwi Team, said last night's meeting of convoyers "ended in good spirits and renewed determination to get our aid through to Gaza, despite the new uncertainties we face".

Convoy leaders are today looking for alternative shipping to get their volunteers and vehicles to Al-Arish. From Al-Arish it's just a short drive across Egyptian territory to the only gateway into Gaza not under Israeli control.

ENDS

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