Kansas City resident injured in attacks on Viva Palestina

Viva Palestina Convoy Arrives in Gaza After Attack in El-Arish

Kansas City's own Mohamed El-Housiny was unfortunately among approximately 50 Viva Palestina convoy participants injured in attacks by Egyptian police during a standoff at El-Arish port on January 5. [Listen to his comments during a video report about the attack on Viva Palestina convoy participants. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gObPx_3NOWA]

However, convoy participants were steadfast in their efforts to deliver medical aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Mohamed emphasized they were "willing to stand here to take our aid, to do whatever it takes to get into Gaza." The convoy of 200 vehicles and hundreds of individuals were able to depart the Egyptian port of El-Arish and enter Gaza on January 6, 2010. 

The Viva Palestina convoy handed the medical aid over to the Central Council of Charities, a non-governmental body of civic societies, at a ceremony in Gaza City on January 7. Convoy volunteers will now be visiting hospitals and other places where their aid will be put to use, as well as taking a tour of the devastated areas of Gaza, as reported on the Viva Palestina web site.

Convoy leader Kevin Ovenden said "We are all emotional to see that all of Gaza are out to greet us! Our Viva Palestina convoy is symbolic!  It shows the Palestinian people just how much the people of the West do care. We come in peace to deliver humanitarian aid and we hope that our convoy (and convoy's like ours) will help to build pressure on the Israeli government to break the siege."

Convoy organizers and participants should be saluted for their resolute effort to break the inhumane siege on Palestinians living in Gaza. Kansas City should be proud of the small group that traveled from this area to join Viva Palestina – many here stand with you in spirit as you show your solidarity!

For more information on the Viva Palestina convoy and area participants, follow these links:

• Official Viva Palestina web site with links to news reports
• Video report - “Viva Palestina Convoy Attacked in El-Arish #3”
• Reuters news report - “Egypt police clash with Gaza relief convoy members” 
• Report on Mohamed El-Housiny’s presentation to a Kansas City audience on November 5, 2009
• Report on George Galloway’s presentation at a July 2009 KC area fundraiser for Gaza