Salem-News.com Egypt articles Page 42

Humanitarian Convoy Breaks Gaza Siege

The convoy members will do their best to experience as much of Gaza as possible and share with the world the reality of life for people entering four years of a brutal collective punishment policy.

(GAZA CITY) - The Road to Hope Convoy reunited in Egypt after having been split by the Egyptian requirement to charter a ship from Libya to El Arish and the kidnapping of 10 convoy members from Libya to Greece.

After a demanding and very long 7 week journey the convoy members have been given just over two days to stay in Gaza or risk joining the imprisoned population of Gaza; this is typical of the Egyptian control of the Rafah Crossing.

DRAMATIC VIDEO Gaza Activists Taken to Sea Against Their Will Now Held at Gunpoint in Greece

"We may be going to jail according to one of the officials onboard the ship. In the meantime we remain confined" - Ken O'Keefe

(SALEM, Ore.) - Stories are circulating the world about the Gaza convoy activists who were taken captive aboard a Greek freighter that had been chartered to transport the Convoy from Derna Port in Libya.

A statement from the group reads, "Ten of us are being held ...at gunpoint by a...... Greek SWAT team, in a small room 8x8ft. We have been told if we move we will be shot..."

Kidnapped Aid Workers Speak of Continuing Ordeal Aboard Absconding Greek Ship

(DERNA PORT) - 10 aid workers have made their first contact by mobile phone text messages to family and friends.

They have spoken at length about their ordeal onboard "Strofades IV" Greek-owned ship, registered in Malta.

British Aid Workers Held on Ship in Libyan Sea

Seven UK aid workers, who were planning to take aid to Gaza, are among a group believed to be being held captive on a ship in the Libyan sea.

(DERNA HARBOUT, Libya BBC) - The Strofades IV was taken out of Derna Harbour after volunteers on the Road to Hope convey had a dispute with the Greek captain over a payment.

Tauqir Sharif from Walthamstow and Kieran Turner from Liverpool are on-board.

10 Aid Workers Held Hostage on Greek Owned Ship

Two of the individuals are survivors of the Mavi Marmara incident last May; the situation arose from ship owner argument with agent.

(DERNA PORT, Libya) - "Strofades IV" has broken its moorings, without port permission, and is heading out of Derna Harbour. The rear door of the ship is half closed, with convoy vehicle B7 stuck on it precariously. It is extremely dangerous.

The violent Greek owner who is also its captain of "Strofades IV" has just disembarked (as at 22.50 GMT) through a side door of the ship, onto a speed boat.

Greek Ship Captain Threatens to Leave the Gaza Road to Hope Convoy

"We are being forcefully taken out of the harbour with the captain going crazy ordering the ship to leave!!!" Ken O'Keefe

(TOBRUK / SALEM) - "Now the captain is threatening to leave without us despite 75,000 dollars being paid to his agent for the charter of this ship. We are on the verge of a stand off using our bodies on the back of the ship," wrote Ken O'Keefe, minutes ago.

And now, "We are being forcefully taken out of the harbour with the captain going crazy ordering the ship to leave!!!"

Road to Hope Convoys Remain Stalled but Determined to Reach Gaza

Everyone reading this should contact their nation's embassy connections with Egypt.

(TOBRUK / SALEM) - As we learn of Isreli F-16 jet fighter strikes on the southern Gaza Strip, the Road to Hope convoy still is stalled at Libya's border with Egypt.

Our writer Ken O'Keefe is with this group who drove a large convoy of vehicles from Europe with the intention of delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, by entering through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza.

In Limbo in Libya: Gaza Road to Hope Convoy Urges Contact with Egyptian Embassies

"The Road to Hope convoy has been sitting on the Libyan/ Egyptian border for over 1 week now. We demand the immediate and safe passage so the Road to Hope convoy can deliver humanitarian cargo to the people of Gaza." - Ken O'Keefe

(TOBRUK / SALEM) - I don't understand why Egypt has become a roadblock in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

There are a number of historical reasons that Egypt might seek to help Gaza; and only one reason Egypt would not, and that is Israel.

Road to Hope (R2H) Convoy in Positive Dialogue with Egyptian Officials

Access to Gaza via Egypt looking likely...

(TOBRUK) - Arriving at the Libyan/Egyptian border on several days ago, the Road to Hope Convoy continues to wait at the border.

However, over the last two days increasingly positive communications with Egyptian officials gives us reason to be optimistic and the final manifest of vehicles and convoy members has been requested and received by the Egyptian Government in Cairo. We now await final approval.

Road to Hope Convoy Stalled at Egyptian Border

“Now we find ourselves in our third day at the Libyan / Egyptian border and we remain hopeful that the land route will be opened to us in the coming days” -Ken O’Keefe

(TOBRUK) - The Road to Hope humanitarian aid convoy continues its role in the international community’s collective mission to break the illegal siege of Gaza and deliver desperately needed aid to the people of Palestine in Gaza.

The convoy comprises 30 vehicles and 101 humanitarian aid workers.