Gaza convoy greeted with open arms

As the intrepid activists passed through Egypt's Rafah border crossing, they were greeted with cheers from well-wishers carrying flowers and chanting "Viva Palestina."

After exchanging warm greetings with Palestinian civilians and Hamas administration officials, the campaigners handed over their cargo of desperately needed medical supplies to the Central Council of Charities - a non-governmental body of civic societies.

Convoy volunteers, who ferried the aid nearly 5,000 miles from London to Gaza City via Europe, Turkey, Syria and Jordan, visited hospitals and clinics yesterday where their aid will be put to use, as well as taking a tour of the devastated areas of Gaza.

Viva Palestina convoy leader Kevin Ovenden said: "We are all emotional to see that all of Gaza are out to greet us - it shows the Palestinian people just how much the people of the west do care.

"We come in peace to deliver humanitarian aid and we hope that our convoy - and convoys like ours - will help to build pressure on the Israeli government to permanently lift the siege."

The convoy aimed to cross the Rafah border on December 27 to mark the first anniversary of the beginning of Israel's devastating Operation Cast Lead assault on Gaza, which killed 1,400 Palestinians in three weeks.

But Viva Palestina's arrival was delayed for 10 days by Cairo, which barred the convoy from entering Sinai from Jordan by ferry, forcing it to drive north to the Syrian port of Lattakia.

Just hours before the convoy's arrival, an Egyptian soldier was shot dead during a clash with Palestinian protesters who had gathered along the border to protest over the 10-day delay in the convoy's arrival - and Egypt's construction of a huge underground barrier to cut off smuggling tunnels.

Egyptian forces opened fire to disperse the stone-throwing protesters, wounding at least 35 Palestinians. A day earlier more than 50 people were wounded during a clash between baton-wielding Egyptian riot police and solidarity activists.

Despite the difficulties, convoy member Derek McChrystal said that the journey had been worthwhile.

Mr McChrystal hailed the warm welcome the convoy had received, saying: "It was very rewarding to see.

"The trip was tough, but definitely worth it - I wouldn't have wanted to miss it it for anything."

Convoy organiser and Respect MP George Galloway emphasised that the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza was "not the result of a natural disaster.

"The siege has been imposed by men, to punish the people of Palestine for voting for a party in a free election that the 'big powers' and Israel don't like," the veteran leftwinger observed.