Demand authorities let Viva Palestina convoy into Gaza

Action Alert

(PALOS HILLS, IL 07/13/2009) – Egyptian authorities will not allow the vast majority of humanitarian supplies brought by members of the Viva Palestina convoy into the Gaza Strip, the American Muslims for Palestine learned late today.

The Viva Palestina convoy consists of four ambulances and 43 sedans and pick-up trucks slated for nongovernmental organizations, medical supplies and other items. Authorities will only allow two ambulances and an unspecified amount of medical supplies into the Strip, Viva Palestina officials told Awad Hamdan, AMP national program director.

“If we cannot bring everything we want this time, then we have unfinished business in Egypt,” said Kevin Ovenden, Viva Palestina director. “We will
respond by doubling our efforts in the U.S. and around the world.”

“We are outraged at the difficulties being placed on the U.S. aid convoy to Gaza,” said British MP George Galloway, Viva Palestina organizer. “The president of the United States spoke eloquently here in Cairo about the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza, throughout Palestine and beyond. It is now time to for him to match his eloquent words with action. The American citizens here are demanding their president intervenes to ensure that the entire U.S. convoy enters Gaza without any further hindrances. The medical aid, the vehicles in which it is carried and the citizens themselves are all needed in Gaza now. Without further delay we hope to enter Gaza with all our aid tomorrow.”

ACTION
AMP calls upon its supporters to contact the following officials and request they pressure Egypt into allowing the full amount of aid to reach the people of Gaza, who have been plunged into a humanitarian crisis as a result of Israel’s two-year blockade.

U.S. CONTACTS
President Barack Obama 202.456.1111
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 202.647.5291

Talking points for U.S. officials:

• The United States is a beacon of human rights around the world. The U.S. should support the shipment of aid to the impoverished people of Gaza.

• President Obama, in his Cairo speech in June, said the blockade on Gaza should be eased. Ask the president to stand by his words and urge Israel to life the siege on Gaza.

EGYPTIAN CONTACT
Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Sameh Shoukry 202.895.5400

Talking point:
Demand that Egypt allows the entire Viva Palestina convoy, with all the vehicles, medical supplies and other items, into Gaza.

The American Muslims for Palestine is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to educate the American public and media about issues relating to Palestine and its rich cultural heritage. For more information or to make a donation, call 888.404.4AMP.