Gaza-bound aid convoy arrives in France

A convoy of hundreds of vehicles, dubbed the Viva Palestina Lifeline 5, hoping to break Israel’s Gaza naval blockade, has arrived in France.

The convoy organized by former British lawmaker George Galloway left London for the Gaza Strip on Saturday, September 18.

It will pass through various European countries where it will be joined by pro-Palestinian activists.

It will then go to Syria and meet trucks from Jordan. The convoy will then leave the Syrian port of Latakia and sailing to the Egyptian port of El Arish.

There, the convoy will be enlarged by trucks from North African countries. From El Arish the convoy is expected to move toward the Gaza Strip and plans to enter through the Rafah border crossing during the first half of October.

The illegal Israeli-imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the coastal enclave.

Some 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education. Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively in the Gaza Strip.