Update on KC participants joining Gaza Freedom March, Viva Palestina convoy

Actions mark first anniversary of Israeli attacks

December 27 marks the one-year anniversary of the Israeli military attacks on Gaza, an area of land approximately the same size as the Kansas City metropolitan area. The attacks carried out over 22 days led to the deaths of 1400 Palestinians, most civilians, including over 400 children and thousands injured. Palestinian attacks during the same time period resulted in 13 Israeli deaths, including 3 civilians.

To remember the devastating massacre and help break the Israeli-enforced blockade on Gaza, two major projects, Viva Palestina, a humanitarian relief convoy with 200 vehicles which began in the United Kingdom, and Gaza Freedom March comprised of 1400 international participants, will cross into Gaza on December 31, 2009.

Kansas City area participants include Mohamed El-Housiny, who participated in a July 2009 convoy to Gaza, and Emiliano Huet-Vaughn, graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School and economics doctoral student at University of California-Berkeley. Hedy Epstein from St. Louis, Missouri, who has spoken to audiences in KC several times on her Middle East peace work, is also participating in the Gaza Freedom March.

• Go to the Gaza Freedom March site or the Viva Palestina site for up-to-date information on both the march and convoy.

Update on Viva Palestina convoy and Gaza Freedom March

December 26, 2009 – Egyptian officials are refusing to allow entry for march participants, as well as banning the passage of the convoy through the port of Aqaba, Jordan. This reluctance to allow passage to Gaza further isolates Palestinian efforts to overcome the three-year long blockade.

Media Benjamin with CODEPINK, a key organizer of the march, urges all supporters to “pressure the Egyptian government. We’re asking [people] to call the Egyptian embassy at (202) 895-5400 and plead with them to be on the side of the moral conscience of the world and the side of the people of Gaza in this one-year anniversary….”

• RESPOND TO THE ACTION ALERT to pressure the Egyptian government

- Matt Q.

• “Muslim, Christian from Wichita to march in Gaza together,” story in Wichita Eagle, December 26, 2009.
• “Local women to join Gaza Freedom March,” story in St. Louis Today, December 18, 2009.
• Mohamed’s presentation on November 5, 2009 - http://www.cjme.org/viva-palestina-kc-report
• Emiliano’s appeal for support - http://cjme.org/former-kc-resident-planning-join-gaza-freedom-march
• Report on KC participants on July 2009 Viva Palestina convoy - http://cjme.org/viva-palestina-report2.htm
• Report on George Galloway’s presentation at a KC area fundraiser for Gaza - http://cjme.org/content/viva-palestina-report