Northern Ireland man detained in Tunisia as Gaza convoy is halted

By Emily Moulton
Friday, 27 February 2009

A Co Tyrone man who is driving a lorry to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid as part of the ‘Viva Palestina’ convoy has been detained in Tunisia.

John Hurson (39), from Dungannon, entered the north African country on Wednesday after traveling from Algeria but was stopped by Tunisian police, along with the rest of the convoy, and herded into a football stadium in the province of Gabes, more than 300kms away from the capital city of Tunis.

Yesterday, the Tunisian authorities said they would allow the convoy to continue on its journey to Gaza. However, last night the convoy remained in the country and all 120 vehicles were being kept under lock and key in the stadium.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from the stadium in Gabes, Mr Hurson explained he had spent all day trying to get out of the sporting facility but had been repeatedly told they were being kept inside for their “own safety”.

“It’s just crazy,” he said.

“The Tunisian Government are keeping everyone under wraps. They are telling us we are not under arrest but they are not letting us out of the stadium.

“Their excuse is that it’s for our safety.

“There is some sort of civil unrest near the border at the moment. They are afraid we might spark some sort of uprising.

“Some people have managed to get away to a hostel to get showered and rest but we are all still stuck in here.

“We have been told that they might take us to a hotel tonight but our vehicles will stay in the stadium.

“It looks as if we won’t be able to leave here until Saturday.”

Before the convoy was taken to Gabes, Mr Hurson’s lorry broke down in the province of Gafsa.

He explained the Tunisian authorities had ordered the convoy to keep moving but because they were stuck on the side of the road he claimed they became a bit hostile.

Once they were able to get moving, the entire convoy met up in Gabes.

According to Press TV, two human rights activists traveling with the convoy were arrested by Tunisian police on Wednesday night.

A reporter, Yvonne Ridley, who is accompanying the convoy, told the news agency the activists were pushed into a van and taken to an undisclosed destination and that their fate remained unknown.

Mr Hurson said many in the convoy were still confused about when they would be able to re-start their trek but acknowledged the Tunisian Government had allowed mechanics into the stadium to help with repairs.

“I just have a wheel bearing that needs to be fixed, which is no problem,” he said last night.

“They have let mechanics in to fix things but in terms of the way they have handled this whole situation, it’s been a big mistake.”

The ‘Viva Palestina’ convoy was organized by Respect MP George Galloway in response to the humanitarian crisis which is currently affecting thousands of Palestinians following Israel’s military assault last month.

More than 100 vehicles, including a fire engine, ambulance and even a boat gathered outside Parliament buildings in London on Valentine’s Day and plan to travel more than 5,000 miles through cities such as Bordeaux, Madrid, Tangier, Fez, Ras Jdeir (Libyan border), Tripoli, Cairo and finally ending up at the border crossing of Rafah — sealed by Cairo despite the humanitarian crisis — in Palestine on March 9.