Gaza BloggingChronicles of a delegation of U.S. citizens traveling to Gaza organized by CodePink and supported by U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice, Rome, Italy
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Maria is in Cairo! She arrived from Nairobi today and is with Chérine. Stephanie will be arriving tomorrow.
There will be an orientation meeting with the entire delegation, numbering around 80 people now, on Thursday. And on Friday we leave for Al-Arish, near the Rafah crossing.
We will blog as often as possible!
The good news is that the Candian group made it to Al-Arish with another bus company. They were stopped by police at one of the checkpoints past the Suez Canal and the police escorted their vehicle to the hotel in Al-Arish and are keeping a close watch on them.
The group will try to cross into Gaza tomorrow morning.
The CodePink organizers are contacting Congress, embassies, Red Crescent, Canadian Parliament, etc. to get more political support.
Delegates are contacting their congressional/Senate offices, to let them know a constituent is participating and asking that they contact the Egyptian or Israeli Embassy to help facilitate your trip.
Our first taste of the difficulties getting to Gaza…CodePink press release:
Egyptian government attempts to block travel by foreign nationals to border crossing with Gaza; CODEPINK delegations say they will not turn back
CAIRO, Egypt — May 21, 2009 – As more than 160 Americans and other citizens from around the world begin arriving in Cairo with the intent to cross into Gaza, the operators of Egyptian bus services say they been prohibited by the Egyptian government from transporting them to the border. The groups, made up of four delegations on the Egyptian side and one on the Israeli side, are part of a CODEPINK campaign to bring humanitarian supplies and build playgrounds for the children of Gaza.
So far, the CodePink delegations will be bringing $15,000 worth of playground equipment, toys and school supplies. In addition, we are bringing in children’s medicines (the amount not yet determined).
See below the press release CodePink issues in late April:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2009
As Obama meets with Middle East leaders, more than 100 citizen diplomats travel to Gaza Will call for end of crippling border blockade
WHEN: May 25 to June 14
WHERE: Egypt to Gaza, Israel to Gaza
WASHINGTON — To pressure the Obama administration to push Israel and Egypt to end their blockade of Gaza, five delegations of students, lawyers, teachers, journalists and activists will rally at the borders of the war-torn land in June and attempt to break the siege. If they are allowed in, they will bring toys, school supplies and materials to build playgrounds.
