LONDON (PIC)– British MP George Galloway is planning to lead a new humanitarian aid convoy to the Gaza Strip this time from the United States of America with the help of American activist Ron Kovik the Palestine Telegraph electronic paper said.
It added “Fresh from the success of the Viva Palestina aid convoy which took over 100 vehicles to Gaza from Britain Galloway has linked up on his US tour with the Vietnam veteran and peace campaigner Ron Kovic to launch a similar but bigger venture from the States”.
Galloway announced the initiative at a 1000-strong meeting in Anaheim South California rounding off a packed-out coast to coast speaking tour highlighting the Palestinian cause.
“There’s a new atmosphere in the US over Palestine” says Galloway “the phenomenal response to this tour demonstrates that.”
Ron Kovic whose story was immortalized in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July will be the co-leader of the convoy which will form up in Egypt and make its way to the Rafah crossing and into Gaza.
Organizers are aiming for 500 vehicles and 10 million dollars of aid. “And what better day to head off” says Galloway “Than July 4 – (USA) Independence Day!”
The European campaign to lift the siege on Gaza for its part has announced that an aid convoy is to head from Italy to the Gaza Strip after three weeks following the conclusion of the seventh conference of Palestinian refugees in Europe to be held in the Italian city of Milan.
Rami Abdo member of the campaign and coordinator of the convoy said that the convoy would be composed of tens of trucks carrying basic medical supplies for the children with special needs affected by the Israeli aggression.
He added that European MPs and officials along with medical specialists and solidarity activists would accompany the convoy.
