Egypt Working with Road to Hope Convoy: Group Still Enroute to Gaza

The convoy looks like it will reach Gaza...

Photos from the Road to Hope convoy

(SALEM, Ore.) - An update on the Road to Hope Convoy rolled onto the group's Facebook page at 10:00 p.m. BST Friday 29 Oct 2010.

Our Writer Ken O'Keefe, in Libya.

Ellie Merton wrote, "The convoy is in the border area of Libya, near Tobruk, staying in temporary accommodation until our very kind hosts can get enough hotel rooms together in Tobruk..."

According to information released later in the day by Libyaalyom.com, the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman, Hossam Zakithe, said authorities will facilitate the road convoy through the port of Al-Arish, through the air and sea, and confirmed its refusal to receive the convoy by road.

Arabnews24.net reports that the organizers of the convoy intend to board vessels today in the port of Benghazi, heading to the Gaza Strip.

The stated aim of this convoy is to take humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza so that they realise that there are those who care for them.

"The Road to Hope convoy does not have any political motives and all volunteers seek to achieve humanitarian ends. The convoy team does not seek any confrontation with anyone but if the aid is prevented from entering Gaza, due measures (within the boundaries of the international law) will be taken to accomplish the humanitarian task."

You can check for updates on their Website, www.roadtohope.co.uk.

Organizers with the Road to Hope convoy say tThe Permanent Popular Committee for the Support of the Palestinan People, Libya in cooperation and coordination with the General Federation of NGOs in Libya have agreed to take all responsibilities related to the Road To Hope convoy in Libya.

They are also collecting donation and send their convoy Al Quds 5 with Road To Hope. Learn more: www.alamal.org.ly

Images from Facebook

Other updates from the Road to Hope convoy:

• The Libyan Airlines has offered a 50% discount for all those who fly to Tripoli to join the convoy on the 16th of October.
• The General Syndicate For Gold and Precious Metals has offered to help in food and fuel in Libya.
• Libyan Scouts offered to build tents and prepare their camps to accommodate the convoyers in three locations in Libya.
• Libyan Youth Hostel has also offered to accommodate the convoyers in three different locations in Libya.
• Awkaaf and Zakat Affairs General Establishment is encouraging Libyans to donate and raise funds to help the convoy to deliver the aid to Gaza.
• Altahady Association for the Handicapped has started collecting donations to fill our vehicles and will be part of our convoy. www.altahadey.org
• The Medical Alert has offered to contribute to the convoy be sending a team of doctors, nurses and a driver in an ambulance with emergency medicine throughout the Libyan land. www.medicalalert.ly
• The Social Security Fund Investments Company has offered accommodation to convoyers. www.ssfi.ly.
• Alkaber restaurant in Ben Jawad owned by a family calls Alzadma have offered to host the whole convoy for dinner and overnight stay. Will update you on others.

This overland convoy is the latest international effort to reach Gaza and deliver aid and a whole lot of moral support.

For history buffs, Tobruk, a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt, is famous for its role during World War II. The Australian 6th Division took Tobruk during a bloody battle on the 22nd of January 1941. The Australian 9th division ("the Rats of Tobruk") pulled back to Tobruk to avoid encirclement after actions at Er Regima and Mechili and reached Tobruk on 9 April 1941 where prolonged fighting against German forces followed.

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