Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire Appeals To Egyptian Government To Open Rafah Crossings To Allow Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza
MAGUIRE SAID:On Thursday 3lst December, 2009 people of Gaza will remember the beginning of Operation Cast Lead massacres upon them, by the Israeli Military, when l,400 people in Gaza were killed and some 5,000 were injured during the 22 day assault. These crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli Government are not only remembered by the people of Gaza and of Palestine, but my millions of people around the world, who were shocked and disgusted by this further act of barbarity upon the people of Gaza by the Israeli Government.In order to show their solidarity with the people of Gaza, around l,400 people from 48 different countries have this week gathered in Egypt hoping to enter Gaza at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. They bring humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. These l,400 represent millions of People around the world who join them in spirit and add their voices to theirs to demand that Israel change its policies of siege and occupation and illegal policies of collective punishment of the people of Gaza.These people come from many different countries. Their demands are simple: To the Israeli Government – lift the illegal and immoral siege of Gaza, which has left l.5 million people with inadequate food, water, health care, electricity, sanitation, and education.Amongst the International delegation are about one dozen people from Ireland, who has brought medical aid and educational materials and toys for the children. The Irish delegation have joined with the Gaza Freedom March and Viva Palestina Convey in their 200 Gaza bound vehicles, and have travelled for several weeks overseas to join other International delegates from around the World.I would appeal to the Egyptian Authorities to open the Rafah crossing and assist the humanitarian delegations to enter Gaza to be with the people of Gaza. It is particularly important as the children are suffering so much and as the human family we must all do what we can to help each other, particularly the children and civilians, who under International Law must be protected against war and violence.I appeal to President Obama and the American Administration to do all in their power to bring to an end this illegal siege of Gaza, which is a shame to humanity in this the 2lst Century, when Governments and people are challenged to abolish barbaric wars and solve problems through dialogue and negotiations. Mairead Maguire (Nobel Peace Laureate)
www.peacepeople.com (44 (o) 28 90 663465)
Police barricade entrance to Gaza Freedom Marchers hotel #GFM http://post.ly/GjWk
"Skeptical about the parent pf Al-Hiwar (dialogue). It is based in London, catering to dialogue rather than news. Seems more dedicated to serving Arabs overseas. My original hunch of it being Lybian could be wrong."
Todays Jordan Times carried the weekly article by Hassan Abu Nimeh, Ali's father, condemning the Egyptian role re the rerouted Vein of Life convoy, about you guys [activists in Cairo] and whether Egypt will allow you to proceed to Gaza, and about the subterranean steel wall planned to seal the seige on Gaza. As usual he was very insightful and convincing.
So far no reference to you guys in the major outlets Al-Jazeera's two outlets, Al-Arabia, Al-Manar, BBC Eng and BBC Arabic.The satellite station I wrote you about, "Al-Hiwar", is leading a fantastic charge against the Egyptian regime highlighting its complicity in the seige, treason and being an accomplice to genocide. It is effectively responding to Mubarak's hypocritical speech yesterday calling on the world how it is everybody's duty to stand up for the national aspirations and future soverignty of Palestine. He has excelled in the hypocrite's role. No shame what so ever.Worth noting that some of the calling audience joining in the Egyptian condemnation were a couple of very well known writers/commentators from the gulf states, Qatar and UAE .
Hundreds of activists, note riot police and detention trucks.
Now outside French embassy surrounded by riot police. Major march sch for tomorrow.
Things are chaotic but call any time, incoming calls are free:
011-2-01614-77373 see:
http://husseini.posterous.com
http://washingtonstakeout.com
Things are chaotic but call any time, incoming calls are free:
011-2-01614-77373 see:
http://husseini.posterous.com
http://washingtonstakeout.com
* Contrary to the recent statement I posted, apparently 50 people got on a bus to Gaza. It's not clear why. I went to sleep with the understanding that the buses where going to be called off.
* The Gaza Freedom March will mostly consist of tens of thousands in Gaza. It would be nice to have hundreds of activists from around the world, but the point is to break the siege. It looks like tomorrow that will mean a march here in Cairo at the same time.
Codepink reverses themselves, official. They had lost street cred. They must regain it by organizing large protest/camp out outside the US embassy. Simon Bolivar plaza is near the US embassy - that's the place to do it. Also -
- start working with Egyptian activists in ernest
- call for more internationals to come to Cairo. (see previous entry at http://husseini.posterous.com )
- democratize the decision making structure so it doesn't take a rebellion to do the right thing. Many US activists are now joining the French. That's good, they should join the French as a short step to doing what the French are doing at the US embassy. -Sam Husseini
http://washingtonstakeout.com Begin forwarded message: From: Rae Abileah
Date: December 30, 2009 9:45:43 AM GMT+02:00
To: gaza-freedom-march@googlegroups.com
Subject: [GFM] Update: No Token Delegation
Reply-To: codepink.rae@gmail.com Dear Gaza Freedom Marchers, The GFM steering committee spent most of the night discussing the decision to accept the Egyptian proposal for a 100-person delegation to Gaza. Some of us felt that the restrictions demanded by the Egyptians were unfair and that due process (including full consultation with partners) was not followed. We all share a similar goal, we want to break the siege of Gaza. Allowing in a delegation of one hundred people into Gaza, while excluding everyone else for no apparent reason, seemed to many a strategy to divide us. Further deliberation has led us to believe that we made a mistake; we should not have been content with so little or contribute to whitewashing the misdeeds of the Egyptian government. Already most mainstream newspapers ran articles about GFM. Our message, even from Cairo, is reaching new audiences. We are determined to continue pressuring the authorities so that we all enter Gaza as we set out to do. We apologize for the confusion and distress this may have caused. We are no longer sending a token delegation to Gaza. Let's renew the momentum we have created and show Egypt, Israel and our own governments that we will not be silent. La lutte continue! GFM Steering Committee
- start working with Egyptian activists in ernest
- call for more internationals to come to Cairo. (see previous entry at http://husseini.posterous.com )
- democratize the decision making structure so it doesn't take a rebellion to do the right thing. Many US activists are now joining the French. That's good, they should join the French as a short step to doing what the French are doing at the US embassy. -Sam Husseini
http://washingtonstakeout.com Begin forwarded message: From: Rae Abileah
Date: December 30, 2009 9:45:43 AM GMT+02:00
To: gaza-freedom-march@googlegroups.com
Subject: [GFM] Update: No Token Delegation
Reply-To: codepink.rae@gmail.com Dear Gaza Freedom Marchers, The GFM steering committee spent most of the night discussing the decision to accept the Egyptian proposal for a 100-person delegation to Gaza. Some of us felt that the restrictions demanded by the Egyptians were unfair and that due process (including full consultation with partners) was not followed. We all share a similar goal, we want to break the siege of Gaza. Allowing in a delegation of one hundred people into Gaza, while excluding everyone else for no apparent reason, seemed to many a strategy to divide us. Further deliberation has led us to believe that we made a mistake; we should not have been content with so little or contribute to whitewashing the misdeeds of the Egyptian government. Already most mainstream newspapers ran articles about GFM. Our message, even from Cairo, is reaching new audiences. We are determined to continue pressuring the authorities so that we all enter Gaza as we set out to do. We apologize for the confusion and distress this may have caused. We are no longer sending a token delegation to Gaza. Let's renew the momentum we have created and show Egypt, Israel and our own governments that we will not be silent. La lutte continue! GFM Steering Committee