Egypt bars Iranian aid from Gaza
On Sunday, I reported that Egypt has barred a number of Iranian 'activists' (the article I'm going to link below will give a higher number) from the Asia 1 'aid ship' from entering Gaza. But if this Iranian report is to be believed, the Egyptians have done even better. According to the report, Egypt won't let any Iranian donations off the ship, is insisting on doing the delivery itself (presumably so that it can check for contraband), has kept the ship tied up in port for much longer than expected and is demanding demurrage fees that the ship's organizers claim they can't pay. An informed source told IRNA here Monday night resorting to baseless excuses, Egypt is refusing from issuing a permit to unload the cargo of a ship containing contributions of Asian nations to Gaza residents.Hasn't been confirmed because it didn't happen, but the Egyptians have done a yeoman's job of discouraging the next group of nutcases from undertaking an 'aid ship.'
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity added in his exclusive interview with IRNA, 'Cairo has in addition to refusing from issuing an unloading permit, asks for paying a high demurrage fine for the period that the ship is banked at its Al-Arish Port, paying which is impossible.
The source who was at the time in direct contact with the ship crew reiterated, 'The ship has been banked at the Egyptian port for 60 hours so far and since it was originally scheduled to be there only for 25 hours, the reserve of their food and water, too, may be diminishing soon.'
Members of the Asia One caravan were after arriving at the Egyptian port directed by the Egyptian officials to head for Gaza to express sympathy with the Gaza residents who have been under the Zionists' inhumane siege for six years now.
Ten Iranian MPs accompanying the caravan were denied permits to leave the ship though.
The cargo of Asia One Ship, carrying the flag of Sierra Leon, was to be unloaded on Monday and forwarded to Gaza along with the entire caravan members.
The Asian Nations' contributions include one thousand tons of medical, food, and relief contributions, as well as toys provided by 135 charity funds from 15 countries, including Iran, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and some other Asian countries.
December 27th, the anniversary of the Zionist regime's 22 Day imposed war against the besieged Gaza residents in the year 2007 is called the International Day for Sympathy with Gaza.
...
Accordin to latest reports, Egypt permitted the Asia One convoy carrying activists to Gaza to dock at the al-Arish port but barred the entry of Iranian lawmakers.
Activists from more than 15 countries including Iran, Japan, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Kuwait and New Zealand joined the convoy that set out from New Delhi last month and traveled through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria.
Palestinian lawmaker Khaled Abdel Mejid was informed by Egyptian authorities in Damascus that Cairo would permit 120 Asia One activists to enter Egypt but said it will bar the entry of 46 Iranian lawmakers and Jordanian activists, the Egyptian daily al-Ahram said Monday.
The convoy was stuck at the Syrian port of Latikia for almost a week until it received permission to dock at the Egyptian port, from there the goods will be unloaded and transferred overland to the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian daily said.
Eight activists stayed with the ship and more than 100 others flew to Egypt from Syria, the report said.
The Egyptian newspaper said authorities barred the entry of 10 generators into Gaza donated by Iran.
The ship's movements were monitored by Israeli Navy and an Israeli Air Force helicopter until it reached the Egyptian port, Arutz Sheva said Monday.
Fars news agency, too, reported on Sunday that the Israeli commandos boarded the ship in international waters as it headed for Egypt, but the news has not been confirmed by Iranian officials yet.
Heh.
Labels: Asia2Gaza convoy, El Arish, Gaza plenty
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:57 PM
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