The Egyptian government on Saturday prevented the Viva Palestina convoy, which includes Turkish lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), from entering Egypt. The convoy, comprising at least 450 people from various parts of the world, left London on Dec. 3 and was expected to enter Gaza by Dec. 27, the first anniversary of an Israeli attack that left nearly 1,500 Palestinians dead and another 5,000 injured.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he supports the convoy and urged Egypt to allow the Turkish deputies to enter. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited Turkey twice this year, with his latest visit on Dec. 15. However, analysts say Egypt’s move may raise tension between Turkey and Egypt. In protest, five British citizens went on a hunger strike on Sunday until the convoy is allowed to enter Egypt. Other members of the convoy prayed and lit 1,500 candles symbolizing the 1,500 Palestinians who were killed in last year’s Israeli attack on Gaza.
Around 250 trucks carrying European, Turkish and Arab aid -- both food and medical supplies -- arrived in Jordan from Syria this week and was headed to the Red Sea port of Aqaba for the ferry journey to the Egyptian Sinai port of Nuweiba. The convoy teams from the US and the UK said they would burn their cars if the Egyptian government does not allow them to enter the country. British Member of Parliament George Galloway, who is leading the convoy, issued a statement urging Egypt to facilitate the convoy’s passage.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu asked for diplomatic talks to take place between Turkish and Egyptian officials at the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara and the Turkish Embassy in Egypt. Davutoğlu’s attempts to persuade Egypt to allow the convoy to enter Gaza were unsuccessful. Egypt continues to insist that the convoy should return to Syria and then enter Egypt through the port of al-Arish. Only after that will Egypt consider allowing the convoy in. Bülent Yıldırım, president of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), said they have been waiting at the port of Aqaba for almost three days and added that Egypt says it stands by Israel. “The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that they will not allow the convoy to enter Egypt as it is a political convoy. Its name has in it the word ‘freedom’,” Yıldırım said.
Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-196833-100-egypt-denies-entry-to-viva-palestina-convoy-turkish-mps.html.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he supports the convoy and urged Egypt to allow the Turkish deputies to enter. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited Turkey twice this year, with his latest visit on Dec. 15. However, analysts say Egypt’s move may raise tension between Turkey and Egypt. In protest, five British citizens went on a hunger strike on Sunday until the convoy is allowed to enter Egypt. Other members of the convoy prayed and lit 1,500 candles symbolizing the 1,500 Palestinians who were killed in last year’s Israeli attack on Gaza.
Around 250 trucks carrying European, Turkish and Arab aid -- both food and medical supplies -- arrived in Jordan from Syria this week and was headed to the Red Sea port of Aqaba for the ferry journey to the Egyptian Sinai port of Nuweiba. The convoy teams from the US and the UK said they would burn their cars if the Egyptian government does not allow them to enter the country. British Member of Parliament George Galloway, who is leading the convoy, issued a statement urging Egypt to facilitate the convoy’s passage.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu asked for diplomatic talks to take place between Turkish and Egyptian officials at the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara and the Turkish Embassy in Egypt. Davutoğlu’s attempts to persuade Egypt to allow the convoy to enter Gaza were unsuccessful. Egypt continues to insist that the convoy should return to Syria and then enter Egypt through the port of al-Arish. Only after that will Egypt consider allowing the convoy in. Bülent Yıldırım, president of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), said they have been waiting at the port of Aqaba for almost three days and added that Egypt says it stands by Israel. “The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that they will not allow the convoy to enter Egypt as it is a political convoy. Its name has in it the word ‘freedom’,” Yıldırım said.
Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-196833-100-egypt-denies-entry-to-viva-palestina-convoy-turkish-mps.html.
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