Syrian Convoy with 116 Tons of Aid Heads to Gaza

It's a convoy--not a flottila--and will not be attempting to break any blockades:

An aid convoy carrying 116 tons of foodstuff, organized by the Syrian Popular Committee to Support the Palestinian People and Resist the Zionist Project, set off on Wednesday toward Gaza.


Ahmed Abdul-Karim, Head of the Committee established in 2001 after the Second Palestinian Intifada, told SANA that five vehicles carrying 116 tons of foodstuff are heading to the occupied Palestinian territories to help alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinians with the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

He called for facilitating the aid convoys' passage to the Palestinians and lifting the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip to make it possible for aid to be delivered directly to the people in the Strip.

"The aid doesn't solve the Palestinians' problems, yet it could alleviate their sufferings," said Abdul-Karim, adding that Syrian people have always supported their brothers in Palestine, and they will keep doing so.

The convoy will head toward Jordan through Nasib border crossing, where it will be received by the Jordanian Hashimiya Charitable Society which in turn will deliver the aid to the people in the blockaded Gaza.

Abdul-Karim pointed out that the Committee is preparing to send another convoy before Eid al-Adha, the third convoy to be sent this year so far.

What the article leaves unsaid is just how the aid is supposed to get from Jordan to Gaza.

From Elder of Ziyon, I've learned that though the implication is that the convoy will bypass Israeli control completely, that is not the case. In fact, the convoy is not something novel and has been done many times. For example, there have been many tons of aid from places like the UAE.

Jordan coordinates with Egypt to send aid from Arab countries from Aqaba to Nuweiba via ferry over the Red Sea, with most of the aid going through Kerem Shalom--so Israel can inspect it.

Unless this is properly coordinated with Egypt, the Egyptians will not allow it--which is what Elder of Ziyon points out happened last month when an Islamist Jordanian convoy was not allowed to travel to Egypt.

Personally, I think the Syrians are just going for the resorts.

Reuters Caption: A Palestinian boy rides on a float in a pool
at Crazy Water Park in Gaza City August 2, 2010.

Technorati Tag: Gaza and Flotilla and Egypt.