The Egyptian government announced Monday that the border between Gaza and Egypt will be closed, just in time for 1,346 men, women, and children from 42 countries -- the Gaza Freedom March -- to arrive in Cairo. It's too late to turn back now. We will proceed, and are asking Egypt to permit the march to go on.
This has happened with each delegation we have taken but with the right pressure we have succeeded in crossing the border each time. Our first attempt was made possible thanks to First Lady Suzanne Mubarak. For International Women's Day we were taking in thousands of pink baskets of aid for the women in Gaza. As we made our way to the border we passed truck after truck brimming with rotting material aid that the Egyptians had not allowed into Gaza. But our outreach to Madame Mubarak proved fruitful: we were met by the Egyptian Red Crescent (which she chairs) and we proceeded into Gaza with no problems.
When we arrive in Cairo on Sunday, December 27, the one-year anniversary of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, we will call on Mrs. Mubarak to once more open her heart to the suffering across her border. We have been writing letters and making calls to her office for months now, and we hope that she will intercede on our behalf to make sure we can bring our humanitarian aid -- children's medicines, clothing and school supplies -- to the families in Gaza who are suffering.
Today in Los Angeles, we are packing peace flags sent from around the country to fly in support of the people of Gaza, toys for the children, and material aid. Thousands of us want to spend our holiday actually pursuing peace on Earth, and goodwill toward men and women. And on Sunday, I will lead the women's delegation as we begin to make our way to the border. Around the world, nearly 100 solidarity events are also planned: consider participating, or organizing your own.
You can apply pressure from home by emailing Mrs. Mubarak a letter similar to ours.
Thank you.
Dear Mrs. Mubarak,We are honored to spend our New Year holiday returning to highlight the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Gaza. In March of this year, for International Women's Day, you intervened and facilitated our entry into Gaza. With your help, we were able to deliver 1,000 gift baskets to the women of Gaza. We were -- and continue to be -- very grateful for your support.
At this year's end, we have organized a march of nearly 1,400 international citizens to come together and march with the families of Gaza on the anniversary of the terrible 22-day Israeli invasion. We know you share our painful feelings about the human rights violations in Gaza -- violations which must be all the more painful for their proximity to you. We appeal to your compassion for those women, men and children and the conditions in which they live. The delegates on this march are bringing winter jackets for children, as well as children's medicines and school supplies.
We once again ask you to intervene on our behalf. Please help us travel to Gaza from December 29-January 2 to deliver much-needed aid and to march hand-in-hand for justice and human rights for all.
With deepest thanks and respect,
Jodie Evans, for the CODEPINK Women's Delegation and the Gaza Freedom March
Follow Jodie Evans on Twitter: www.twitter.com/codepinkalert
Your article and your letter were well written and formulated appropriately for the occasion and cause. It's no wonder that CodePink is doing well through your joint leadership, and that it has managed to find innovative ways to have its progressive voice heard in more and more areas of conflict.
http://www.redress.cc/palestine/slittlewood20091227
Dear Mr. Omar Youssef,
omaryoussef@hotmail.com
As you are the US Egyptian Embassy contact person and I am an American member of the New Fourth Estate- an activist journalist- I am writing you to express my full support for the December 31, 2009 Gaza Freedom March.
I am beseeching you to urge the Egyptian government to realize that civil society has risen up because governments have failed and on the way to Egypt are over 1,300 committed international Internet connected delegates who are seeking to NONVIOLENTLY raise awareness regarding the misery of the 1.5 million human open air prisoners in Gaza who have been denied their human rights.
The 1,300 internationals represent millions around the world who are sending desperately needed medical aid, school supplies, winter jackets for the children and most of all; LOVE, HOPE and the message that the world will NOT give up until the siege is lifted and the occupation ends.
Please, let the people in.
And out.
Most Sincerely,
Eileen Fleming,
Founder of WeAreWideAwake.org
A Feature Correspondent for Arabisto.com
Author of "Keep Hope Alive" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Producer "30 Minutes with Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"
Excerpted from "Today, a year ago and what this little one knew in 2005 regarding Gaza"
http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1531&Itemid=227
This is a very eloquent plea. I will follow up by writing to Mrs. Mubarak, and making a call to the nearest Egyptian Embassy. May you be successful. Your mission is a very noble and needed one.
Let us know how it turns out, please, here on HuffPo.
Israel retained control of the sea, air, and land of Palestine. Palestinians were not permitted to export their produce, nor were they permitted to have access to those things necessary for a viable economy. Unarmed fishermen desperately trying to get food for their families were shot and killed fishing in their own waters Israel is trying to steal the natural gas reserves in Palestinian waters.
When it removed its illegal settlers, it destroyed all their housing leaving the rubble for the Palestinians. It has entered many times to destroy the farmland and to kill unarmed farmers.
Israel did not commit widespread death and destruction upon the people of Gaza because of rockets. Read the Israeli intelligence reports and you might be quite surprised at what you read.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114620§ionid=351020202
"Building Peace Without Obama's Interference
A promising, independent Palestine is quietly being developed, with Israeli assistance"
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107104574571491401847518.html
because groups like yours are just part of the interference.
The US just provided $23 million to build a wall between Gaza and Egypt to prevent tunnels which Palestinians dig at great risk to their lives, some of whom have perished, so that they can bring food, medicine, tiny animals, etc.
The convoys have been examined and contain only humanitarian aid, but the US will not allow that and Egypt has been threatened in the past, and no doubt in the present, with reduced aid if it does not cooperate fully with Israel.
By the way, as long as you're there, perhaps you could also bring some supplies for Gilad Shalit, the soldier kidnapped from Israel who has been held in total isolation for more than three years.
Gaza is a prison. Peop|e can't get in or out except in extreme circumstances. Considering the resu|ts of Viva Pa|estina's efforts, the Israe|is even contro| the Rafah entrance, as they refused to a||ow the aid through that crossing.
How can it be described as anything but a prison?
Why is it not being reported that perishable foodstuffs are not being allowed to cross the border? Why is the dynamic of this action not being investigated and reported upon?
There is a little thing called the self-fulfilling-prophecy. Repeatedly treat people as if they are subhuman, and not entitled to be treated with the same respect that we would treat our animals, and they may return the favor by behaving in a manner that justifies treating them as the worst kind of criminals.
Perhaps there is a perfectly logical reason why the Gazans are treated as if they are not entitled to any of the rights that other people take for granted, things like land, property, and life.
Unfortunately they are doing their job, as defined by their corporate owners, all too well:
distraction and disinformation. BTW, what's the latest on Tiger Woods and Sarah Palin?
If you "pull out" you leave, you do not continue to impose your will.