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http://www.palestinecampaign.org
DAY 7: Friday 24 September The 16 hour ferry ride from Ancona to Igoumenitsa in Greece provided a good opportunity to get to know convoy members better, and to get a decent night's sleep (which was very welcome). They're a fantastic bunch of people on this convoy, all with an absolute passion for justice in Palestine. Some have been involved with the cause for many years, others have come to know more only recently, but each one of us is united in our sense of the injustice that has been done to the Palestinian people coupled with the desire to help right the wrongs of our governments. A few are convoy veterans, having broken the siege with the Viva Palestina convoys in either January 2010 or February 2009, or both, and two are survivors of the attack on the Mavi Marmara, but the majority are new to VP convoys. Every single one of us is determined to get to Gaza, whatever Israel or Egypt throws at us. We docked in Greece at just after 8am and drove our vehicles off the ferry. After a briefing with the convoy leaders, we drove for half an hour to a local service station where a small Greek contingent of pro-Palestinian supporters was waiting for us with sandwiches and juice. We then had a three hour drive along the motorway to Thessalonika. The Greeks are big supporters of the Palestinian cause, and we were tooted many times on the motorway drive. A police escort on the outskirts of Thessalonika met us and took us through to where we're camped now - on grass outside a small sports facility. Local Palestinians, many from Gaza, drove over to meet us and to talk. There are about 450 Palestinians in this town, some students, others living here permanently. In the field next to the sports facility is a warehouse, and the owner has very kindly taken the security settings off his wi-fi connections so we can make use of the internet. As a result, I'm sat in a van in a field in Greece, close to midnight, typing this blog. Every supporter of Palestine makes a difference, and together we will break Israel's siege. |