Egypt denies Jordanian convoy entry to Gaza, again
15-07-2010 12:00 AM
Ammon News - AMMONNEWS — Amal Ghabayen - The Jordanian Professional Associations' Council expressed 'shock' at Egypt's decision not to allow the 'Ansar I' humanitarian aid convoy to enter Egyptian territories to cross over to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
This is the second time in less than a month that Egyptian authorities deny Jordanian activists and professional association members entry into Gaza through its territories.
The convoy, which is still in the southern port-city of Aqaba, is carrying much needed food, medical and other humanitarian supplies.
The council issued a statement on Thursday blasting Cairo's "negative and unacceptable" position towards the people of Gaza, and called on the Jordanian government to exert serious pressures on the Egyptian to change their position.
Jordan News Agency 'Petra' reported that activists from the 'Ansar I' convoy walked out of a meeting with Egyptian officials without reaching any agreement that would allow them to enter Gaza via Egyptian territories.
Activists had staged a sit-in in front of the Egyptian consulate in Aqaba on Thursday to protest Egypt's stance towards the humanitarian aid convoy and efforts to break the 3-year old Israeli siege on Gaza.
The statement, a copy of which was sent to 'Ammon News,' expressed the Council's "disdain and condemnation of Egypt's unacceptable position, not only towards our people in Gaza, but also towards the Jordanian associations, civil society organizations, and all Jordanians."
The Egyptian government had previously denied entry to a delegation of Jordanian professional association activists earlier this month to enter into Gaza through the Rafah border, which is the only border into Gaza bypassing Israel.
"This position will not stop the Jordanian professional associations from continuing to work hard to break the unjust Israeli (and unfortunately, the Arab) blockade," the statement said, adding "we will continue to believe that resistance is the only way to liberate Arab Palestine and will continue to reject any form of normalization with the Zionist entity."
The 25-vehicle convoy left Amman on Tuesday en route to Gaza carrying food, medical and humanitarian supplies.
* Edited by Banan Malkawi from Ammon News Arabic