“Hope” convoy arrives in Alexandria on Friday en route to Gaza

European MPs participating in the “Hope” convoy arrived in Cairo before the arrival, on Friday, of the convoy that is traveling by sea from Genoa, Italy to Alexandria en route to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Rami Abdo, the coordinator of the “Hope” convoy, said on Thursday in a press statement that 12 lawmakers from Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Ireland and Britain would take part in distributing the medical assistance in Gaza especially for those with special needs.

He pointed out that the European MPs would meet with a number of Egyptian officials.

Abdo said that the convoy includes tens of medium sized trucks loaded with medical equipment and advanced technological programs for the blind along with 12 ambulance vehicles donated by non-governmental European organizations and individuals.

He noted that more than 150 persons have joined the convoy including people with special needs.

The European campaign for lifting the siege on Gaza has expressed hope that the Egyptian authority would facilitate the entry of the convoy via the Rafah border terminal, pointing to positive signs in this regard.

It said that the convoy was carrying medical equipment only, and hailed the Egyptian authority for opening the crossing every now and then to alleviate the Palestinians” suffering in the Gaza Strip that has been under siege for three years.

The campaign called for the opening of Rafah crossing before reconstruction material along with humanitarian assistance.