Sawalha: The Siege on Gaza must end now

Sawalha: The Siege on Gaza must end now

GAZA,  Mohammed Sawalha, the deputy-head of the international committee for breaking the siege on Gaza, said on Thursday that the lifeline 5 convoy came to Gaza to deliver clear and sound message to the world that the blockade must end immediately.

In an interview with the PIC, Sawalha said that the free people of the world support the lifting of the oppressive siege and back the Palestinian struggle for independence and freedom.

"As we arrive in Gaza we forget all the pain [of an arduous journey]. We will always be ready to come to Gaza because Gaza leads the international struggle for freedom and deliverance from [the control of] Zionism. Victory and dismantlement of the racist state are near," Sawalha said.
He said that activists participating in the aid convoy were determined and convinced that they will enter the Gaza Strip, and they kept praying for that, adding that they all enjoyed very high morale despite the hurdles on the way of the convoy.

He expressed disappointment at the Egyptian decision to ban former British MP George Galloway and some other activists from entering Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip and asked: "Why were those people barred from entering the Gaza Strip? They only came to support the weak and besieged [people of Gaza]".

He called on the international community to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and to open all border crossings for the residents of the Strip.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmad Yusuf, the undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry in Gaza, said that his government was preparing for an official reception in Rafah on Friday, but they were taken by surprise when the Egyptian authorities allowed the activists to enter on Thursday.

He thanked Egypt for facilitating entry of the convoy, adding that this move will hopefully encourage other aid conveys to travel the same route.

He also thanked all those who participated the convoy,  especially, George Galloway and said that even though George was not present, he is ever present in the hearts and minds of the people of Gaza