A local youth band plays as the vehicles are loaded on the ferry in Lataikia, Syria. Photo: Photo: Monica Jones.
Work in the world - Gaza convoy diary
Bristol Quakers joined the recent Viva Palestina convoy taking humanitarian aid to Gaza. Monica Jones kept a diary.
Sunday 6th December 2009
Ambulances and vans from all over the UK have gathered today in London, all driven by people determined to ease the suffering caused by the siege of Gaza. George Galloway arrives and says words of encouragement. We’re warned that convoy leaders will watch for dangerous driving and order perpetrators home if necessary. And we’re off…
Monday 7th December
A freezing night spent under canvas in a car park outside Brussels makes the morning’s discovery of heated washrooms especially welcome. Nightfall sees us hurtling round a series of terrifying bends made scarier by rain and darkness, in the direction of the German border. We come to a stop near Stuttgart, on a piece of wasteland by an industrial estate. As we pitch tents, the rain streams down and the bedding gets drenched. A wet night turns to a freezing one, and we all toss and turn until a chilly winter light tells us it’s morning.
Tuesday 8th December
An earlier start today – off by 10.00. Germany is pretty here – the rolling farmland, the steep-roofed houses clustered round the village church. Now we’re climbing. The air grows cold – and our van has no heating! We stop overnight at a lorry park at Kelversfielden. Am woken in a fright at 6.45 am, from my first warm sleep this trip, by a terrific shouting outside the tent. Only our group leader Shak telling everyone to get up. Out of Germany – into Austria. We enjoy the drive over the Brenner Pass, in the looming shadow of snow-covered mountains. We’re in Italy, when word comes over the CB radio that a van is on fire, and ‘going to explode’. (The four women in it told us later they thought their end was nigh.) It was a bit of lagging getting singed by the engine.
Thursday 10th December
After our next night stop, in northern Italy, we wake to ice on our tents. Mine sits thawing behind me on the van floor, as we cross a bare, chilly plain that looks like Suffolk. No grapes in the vineyards, now. We’re going to get the ferry to Greece, from Ancona.
Saturday 12th December
On board the ferry, the convoy holds a meeting. A few grievances get aired. ‘Some ‘sisters’ aren’t wearing hijab,’ a conservative Muslim complains. He’s politely but firmly put in his place by the ‘sisters’. ‘Our diversity is our strength’ became the slogan of the hour.
The Muslims pray five times a day – in the car park if there’s nowhere else. The fervour, the simplicity of it, is moving.
Monday 14th December
Thessaloniki (Salonika). Our temporary home is a new sports centre, where the city’s mayor and two MPs come to welcome us. The Greeks feed and look after us so well. We’re touched by their kindness.
Tuesday 15th December
A night in Alexandropolos, then on through pelting rain for thirty miles to the Turkish border, We get through Turkish customs surprisingly easily – though given our 70+ vehicles, it takes time.
Wednesday 16th December
The Turks are bringing aid – over forty vehicles, with supplies. Dozens of Turkish aid workers join us, from their international charity IHH. Their energy is inspiring.
Sunday 20th December
After the usual early morning confusion we set off between olive groves, on the main road to the Syrian border. We can feel it getting warmer.
At this border, passports and visas seem a formality. The welcome is overwhelming. Whole school classes come out to wave Syrian and Palestinian flags, and cheer our arrival.
We’re staying in a hotel tonight!...
Tuesday December 22nd
Damascus was a wonderful respite. We spent the day exploring the city. Then the Syrians donated more aid, and volunteers stayed up overnight to load it.
Thursday December 24th
Delays at the Jordan customs, but a police escort to Amman, where George Galloway gives a press conference. He makes a powerful impact wherever we go – and his connections across the Arab and Muslim world are vital to the convoy getting through. The real challenge will be persuading the Egyptians to let us in.
Saturday December 26th
Jordanian port of Aqaba. The Egyptians have stopped us crossing over from Jordan to Nuweiba in Egypt. We can’t afford the alternative, longer sea route. So we’re stuck.
Sunday December 27th
Some of us, including fellow-Quakers, are on hunger strike. We talk to the press, send out appeals home. Surely we can’t be here forever?
December 29th 2009
The Turks help negotiate a deal. We get let into Gaza, provided we sail to Al-Arish – via Latakia in Syria. The Turkish government is generously covering the extra costs. And we’ll arrive closer to Gaza, so being less conspicuous in Egypt.
Sunday 3rd January
While the vehicles went by ship, we flew. Some of us landed in Damascus (third time lucky!) – the plane having developed engine trouble shortly after take-off. We spent the night in the airport, and flew on to Al-Arish next day.
Monday 4th January
We spent a troubled night encamped on the dockside at Al-Arish. Who started the rock-throwing from outside the compound? Most probably government provocateurs, hoping the convoy’s young hotheads would react, and make us all look hooligans in the media. If this was the plan, unfortunately it succeeded. A battle ensued. Seven people were arrested (later released), and there were cut heads and bruised arms.
Tuesday 5th January 5.50 pm
We’re at the port gates, waiting to travel to Gaza. Everything is going in – except for fifty-nine of the Americans’ cars. It’s sad, as these vehicles were specifically requested, by type and make, by the medics in Gaza.
Wednesday 7th January
At last I managed to meet Isam Farah, an elder of Gaza City Baptist Church, which has links with Bristol AM.
The Egyptians allowed us only twenty-four hours in Gaza (then ordered the whole convoy to leave Egypt, while deporting George Galloway). Still, I was able to give the Baptists our letter from Bristol Area Meeting. We also gave them our van, with the aid inside. This church has a very good reputation for work in caring so they will find good uses for it all.
We hope to keep in touch with them in future.
Monica was accompanied by Candia Barman and Paul and Rachael Millings.
