Road to Hope Convoy with Ken O'Keefe Approaching Gaza

More help for the people of Gaza, as long as the convoy clears the Rafah border.

Photos by Ken O'Keefe

(SALEM ) - On one hand it makes the world seem like a much smaller place. People concerned for the well being of Gaza's 1.5 million residents set out for Gaza from London in an overland convoy.

Ken O'Keefe, Cormac O'Daly

This type of organized operation is becoming more popular right now with each month as the truth about the horrible living conditions in Gaza, imposed by the Israeli government, move forward.

Salem-News.com writer Ken O'Keefe of AlohaPalestine.com, who fought Israeli commandos last May when they raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on the high seas, is part of this group, along with other survivors of the ship attack last May, and many other activists.

They have made good progress so far; at last count the overland convoy that set out from Europe was making its way through Libya.

Reading through blog entries about the Convoy, I see this group tried to gather items like C-arm operating equipment allows X-rays to be done during operations I think - these are urgently required but we don't have time to source or fund one to go on this convoy.

Ken O'Keefe's Photos - Road to Hope Convoy 2010 - Libya 1

At one point the convoy received a 1956 Green Goddess fire engine amongst many other vehicles for the trip. However it was decided that the rig would use too much fuel and it was liquidated to raise more cash.

"But it is going to be too expensive to run the vehicle all the way so instead it may be sold on after some publicity work. It is frustrating I still do not have a camera since Israeli forces removed such items from Mavi Marmara," this blogger wrote.

It is important to note that the Freedom Flotilla attacked on the high seas last May, which O'Keefe was aboard, was carrying over a thousand tons of relief supplies. In addition to these dedicated items being seized by Israel, the Israel Defense Forces also stole hundreds of laptop computers and cameras from the journalists and activists aboard the Mavi Marmara.

Even more troubling is the fact that well over a million dollars in cash, money gathered to give to the poor people of Gaza, was also stolen by the Israelis.

Haaretz in Israel wrote: "Military Police arrested an Israel Defense Forces officer suspected of stealing laptop computers from activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid ship raided by Israeli commandos in May and selling them to other officers."

Many of this officers underlings were also either under investigation or in custody for the crimes. Either way the intended goal was missed. This is why O'Keefe and the others are currently enroute to Gaza again.

Recent Convoy

Their overland convoy will arrive almost on the heels of the Viva Palestina convoy that reached the border crossing at Rafah in October^{1}.

In his typical way, Ken O'Keefe is on the move and still communicating from the road as well as possible. One problem is that he and others who were aboard the Mavi Marmara last May are listed.

"Of extra concern apparently 5 Viva Palestina members have been arrested in Egypt upon exiting Gaza, if this be the case we all must assure their safe release. For those of us who are potential targets for arrest, especially those on the Mavi Marmara, we enter Egypt with humanity as our guide, let us hope we face no persecution, that we are all allowed to express our love and solidarity for the people of Gaza."

So for now this former Marine and others have to wonder. There are concerns.

Leave it to San Diego native Ken O'Keefe to find beautiful hollow waves, even in places like Libia!

"We should enter Gaza in a few days, thus far the Egyptian government seems to be very agreeable. But it remains to be seen, will Egypt block those of us who were on the Mavi Marmara? There are 8 of us on the convoy, we all of course desire to enter Gaza very much, especially after being denied on the flotilla, but we... shall see..."

At last count he says the convoy is, "Making way to Egypt, Libya border, still on course to arrive in Egypt Wednesday morning. Thanks to all wishing us well, we are all feeling great."

I have to wonder how many people realize the magnitude of these Gaza operations. There is no excuse for Israel's construction of a wall around the entire non-oceanfront perimeter of Gaza. This is one of the most historic ocean cities in the world, and the people are forced to live in atrocious circumstances. They are periodically bombed into submission by Israel, and construction supplies to rebuild damaged homes are greatly restricted, if ever allowed by Israel.

The mission of the Freedom Flotilla last May led to the deaths of nine innocent activists aboard the Mavi Marmara. The act has been condemned by the UN Human Rights Commission. However, it led to Egypt's opening of the southern border of Gaza, at Rafah, which is this Convoy's destination. The lives of those nine men, most of whom were killed execution style by the Israeli commandos, were not given in vain.

^{1} Oct-21-2010: Viva Palestina Convoy Breaks Siege and Engers Gaza to Jubilant Crowds - Salem-News.com

Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.

Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 65 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com