Ireland to Gaza: Four Teams To Set off for Gaza

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday December 10, 2009 11:40

by Freda H and John Hurson - IPSC (personal capacity)

After 6 months of fundraising, 4 teams from Ireland left their hometowns on Friday December 4th, to travel 4,000 miles to Gaza, to deliver Ambulances and Humanitarian aid to the stricken region.

After 6 months of fundraising, 4 teams from all across Ireland left their hometowns on Friday December 4th, to travel 4,000 miles to Gaza, to deliver Ambulances and Humanitarian aid to the stricken region. A truck filled with aid from Glasgow (through Cairde Na hEireann)and Ireland (through various groups and individuals) left Dublin Port at 9pm on Saturday 5th December. There was a short 'send off' at 7pm in the Dublin Port Topaz Service Station (at the intersection of Bond Drive and Promenade St. The event was attended by members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, RTE's Duncan Stewart and the general public who came to wish the three brave volunteers accompanying this aid to Gaza well. Paul Diplacito and Omar Ibrahim from Glasgow and David Callendar from Tyroneloaded the last few bags of children's toys and clothes onto the truck before supporters waved them off.

Viva Palestina truck filled with aid from Glasgow, Tyrone and Dublin

After 6 months of fundraising, 4 teams from all across Ireland left their hometowns on Friday December 4th, to travel 4,000 miles to Gaza, to deliver Ambulances and Humanitarian aid to the stricken region. A truck filled with aid from Glasgow (through Cairde Na hEireann)and Ireland (through various groups and individuals) left Dublin Port at 9pm on Saturday 5th December. There was a short 'send off' at 7pm in the Dublin Port Topaz Service Station (at the intersection of Bond Drive and Promenade St. The event was attended by members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, RTE's Duncan Stewart and the general public who came to wish the three brave volunteers accompanying this aid to Gaza well. Paul Diplacito and Omar Ibrahim from Glasgow and David Callendar from Tyroneloaded the last few bags of children's toys and clothes onto the truck before supporters waved them off.

In Tyrone, Galway, Dublin, Derry & Cork, volunteers have been working hard fundraising, and raising awareness of the plight of the people in Gaza. Together, they will bring 2 ambulances, a mini bus, and a truck filled with over 10 tonne of humanitarian aid.

They will travel to London where they will join up with the "Viva Palestina Convoy“, organised and led by George Galloway MP. Over 100 vehicles will leave on Sunday December 6th, and will travel through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and reach the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza for December 27th.

December 27th marks the 1st anniversary of the attack on Gaza, which left over 1,400 people dead, and over 5,000 injured. The situation in Gaza is as bad today as it was the day the bombs stopped falling in January. The Gaza Strip is still sealed; homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and mosques still lie in rubble; and fundamental supplies are in severe shortage, as Israel continues to restrict the entry of basic goods such as fuel, medical equipment, oxygen, baby formula, paper, books, and construction materials.

Four volunteers and an ambulance filled with medical aid left from Derry. Another ambulance laden with aid left from Cork, along with 2 volunteers. From Galway, a mini bus loaded with medical aid will also undertake this mammoth journey. From Tyrone/Glasgow, a truck loaded with medical, building, and sporting supplies will joined in this incredible mission.

Each and every person will be giving up their time freely to undertake this incredible journey, and not only will they spend 3 weeks on the road, but they will be away from their family and friends for Christmas.

Tyrone man David Callendar, outlined his reasons for travelling when he said:

“What happened in Gaza in Jan 2009 was a war crime and the ongoing blockade of Gaza by Israel, the United States and Egypt is a crime. The people taking part in these crimes should be brought to justice, and not 20 years from now, when we finally have leaders with integrity and compassion. We have to make changes now.

I was at a demonstration in Palestine 2 years ago and I saw a young boy of about 7 or 8 holding a sign that said "Where is the world?" This is a very common question in Palestine, and for me, being part of the “Viva Palestina Convoy” makes that little boy's sign bigger, brighter and louder. The events in Gaza have highlighted the lack of co-ordination and capacity of not only Irish charities and solidarity groups, but international ones as well. I believe that our convoy will be the only physical aid going to Gaza from Ireland this year, apart from the individual effort of my fellow Tyrone man, John Hurson.

Not only did John deliver essential aid, but he has since set up the 1st GAA club in Gaza.The club has Professor Noam Chomsky and GAA legend Peter Canavan as presidents, and as part of the aid travelling on this convoy, the GAA have donated goalposts, jerseys, and training video's for the children in Gaza who have taken up the sport of Gaelic games.”

Ger Cassidy, one of the organisers of the Cork to Gaza leg of the convoy spoke of the impressions his visits to the West Bank had left on him and his reasons for going to Gaza, “ When I visited Palestine I realised that Israelis don't want internationals to come to Palestine. They do not want us to see that Palestinians are human beings resisting the occupation peacefully. It is our obligation to do what we can to share and alleviate their suffering.”

As well as those taking part in the Viva Palestina Convoy many other Irish people will travel to Gaza later this month to take part in the Gaza Freedom March on December 31st. They will join over 1,000 international men and women in a non-violent demonstration to demand that Israel end the illegal siege of Gaza.

For further information on the Viva Palestina Convoy contact John Hurson johnhurson@hotmail.com

For further information about the Gaza Freedom March conact Hilary Minch campaigns@ipsc.ie

To get involved in Irish based solidarity work for Palestine contact Kevin Squires( IPSC National Coordinator) info@ipsc.ie