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London, Sept 18, IRNA – The largest land convoy yet carrying basic humanitarian aid for Gaza left London Saturday in the latest attempt to break Israel’s three year siege.
Islamic Republic News AgencyThe convoy, co-ordinated by Viva Palestina, is expected to take around 23 days to drive nearly 3,000 miles to Gaza. It will be joined en-route by convoys from Europe, Turkey and Jordan and be met in Syria by convoys from Kuwait and Morocco.
The humanitarian initiative comes after Israeli masked commanders attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters in May, killing nine activists aboard the lead boat, Mavi Marmara.
“The massacre brought a sea change in international opinion against the inhumane siege on the people of Gaza. Far from deterring people from seeking to bring that siege to an end, the Israeli assault is spurring on even more people to end the blockade,” a Viva Palestina spokesman said.
Two survivors of the Mavi Marmara massacre, Nicci Enchmarch and Kevin Ovenden, are among volunteers taking part in the latest convoy, the spokesman told IRNA.
The two are leading the Viva Palestina Lifeline 5 land convoy of more than 200 vehicles carrying medical supplies, educational aid and materials to build a maternity facility in northern Gaza as well as a mosque and a school for orphans.