Egyptian Authorities Detain 50 American Citizens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kristin Szremski
Director of Media and Communications
American Muslims for Palestine
10101 S. Roberts Road
Palos Hills, IL 60465
708.598.4267

(PALOS HILLS, IL 07/11/2009) — The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) has just learned Egyptian authorities have stopped four busloads of American citizens and are preventing them from entering the Gaza Strip with the Viva Palestina convoy, headed by British MP George Galloway.

Kevin Ovenden, director of Viva Palestina – US, told AMP at about 6:15 p.m. EST the Egyptian authorities stopped the buses on the Mubarek Peace Bridge at the Suez Canal and have confiscated the keys from each bus driver.

“The people on this convoy should be praised for their steadfastness, their patience and their dedication in the face of the obstacles posed by the Egyptian authorities,” Ovenden told AMP.  “They are going to sleep on the buses overnight and proceed to Gaza tomorrow.”

The busloads are part of the Viva Palestina – US convoy, which departed on July 4, for Gaza with Galloway and Vietnam Vet Ron Kovic, whose story inspired the movie “Born on the Fourth of July.”

The buses were to meet up with truck loads of medical supplies to distribute to hospitals in Gaza, which are facing severe shortages because of Israel’s two-year blockade against the Gaza Strip.  Gaza’s hospitals have been running mainly on generators since Israel has cut electricity to Gaza and medicines and other supplies are in high demand. Many of Gaza’s hospitals sustained major damage during Israel’s three-week assault in January.

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.