Day 9

We farewelled Thessaloniki and headed straight to Alexandrous in the morning. The drive from Thessaloniki to Alexandrous was a beautiful beachside drive. Arriving in the afternoon we completed a rally, it was surprising to see support in a country like Greece, however well and truly the people shared the passion and justice for Palestine. We headed to a camping site and set up our tents. Most people came out to see what the noise was and asked who and what we’re doing. We headed straight to the beach, swim after several days camping is soothing feeling.

We headed out for some food and I must say we ate the tastiest pizzas with the most hospitable people. Full of smile and laughter. As we were leaving they offered us complementary shirts as a souvenir. The people of Alexandrous were very generous. So generous we met a med student who showed us around and offered to do our washing. I have never met someone who offered their facilities for us to do our washing. Whilst reluctant we were desperate! Such gestures reinforces your belief in what you are doing because people believe in the Palestinian cause more than us, offering what they can to ease our journey.

Arriving back to the campsite gave me time to sort out a few things online back home. Its amazing how absorbed i had become in this convey over the last 9 days, almost forgetting work and study commitments, quite easy to do as the cause for social justice shrinks the importance of everything else. The sleep to the sound of the waves would be the last night in Greece.

Day One

Let me start by explaining just what an amazing day the preparation was… Imagine this: a warehouse full of vehicles ranging from large ambulance to semi trailer trucks, aid in the tonnes, volunteers spanning the globe. Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Malaysia and of course the host country England. Such a mixed range of people all hustling and working frantically to prepare for the morning start. There were people from. NGOs, there were those that were committed to the humanitarian cause of their religion, there were secularists demanding human rights, there were even children boasting about how they will help free Gaza when they were old enough. Such a powerful combination of people working towards one cause, and one cause only; to Free Gaza, to Free Palestine!

The commitment was amazing. People did whatever it took, people remained patient, people helped each other in a way I have not experienced before. It was a late night, we had strangers bring us dinner and demand (I didn’t honestly have a choice!) we join them. We were planning to sleep in sleeping bags as the location was quite remote, until another stranger offered us to sleep in his house, its the least he could do he said. Its the least he could do for the people of Gaza. All of a sudden strangers were not strangers. The word ceased to exist. everyone became a friend, everyone had something powerful in common.

Waking up for day one began beautifully with group fajr prayers. After the organizing of breakfast and the sharing of stories of past convoys (oh how they give me goosebumps) everyone just wanted day 25 to come, everyone just wanted to enter Gaza, everyone just wanted to liberate the oppressed. It was still only 7am. As we made our way to the warehouse, final touches were applied to the convey vehicles and everyone was organized into groups. Of course i went missing at the 11th hour and almost delayed the start but people are starting to know what I am like!

We officially left for Gaza. With cheers from people from Luton. Even filling up diesel became an event. How long does it take for a convoy to fill up with only maybe 5 pumps. But it all added to the atmosphere. We headed towards France, next stop was Ashford. We stopped there and regrouped to discuss the plan. It was also an opportunity to pick up last supplies of sleeping bags, blankets, food, prayers and everything else people had forgotten. We left again like a flock of birds in perfect formation. As every vehicle knew their position we slotted into place and headed for the Euro tunnel.

As i took the wheel, it look me 2 minutes to lose the convoy. I quickly turned around and regrouped – a little worrying getting lost in Europe without maps and navigation systems! Arriving at the tolls was an efficient experience the local Englishman that let us through sat in his booth and commented on how this was such a worthy cause, wow, even the unexpected locals were glad to see this go ahead. My co-driver and I just sat back and smiled, knowing that the next three weeks in our life will be unforgettable.

Euro tunnel was a different experience, loading vehicles in a train carriage and getting on as a passenger was not expected! The ‘unscenic’ route found us again swapping stories about why everyone was there. Another that grabbed my attention was the rejection of entry of a female volunteering from entering the West Bank via Tel Aviv. The officials apparently told her she should visit holy sites in Saudi Arabia and had no business in Palestine, sending her back on a plane to her home country was a stab in the dark for the Israeli officials. As she is now more determined then ever to enter Palestine and this time to break the siege!

Arriving in France was quick and exciting. I of course drove on the wrong side of the road to the shock of some locals, before adjusting to the right hand side of the road! Moving on to join the convoy again meant many were left behind. Before we knew it we were on the A26 headed for our hosts in Bagnolet. The freeway was difficult, driving until 1am after a 6am start was not easy but it was certainly all worth it… There were many hurdles but we handled all with a positive mind.

Our hosts, Euro Palestine were absolutely amazing. They patiently waited until after 1am after we were hoping to arrive at 9pm. The food they had prepared was endless. The smiles on their faces brought an injection of energy in everyones tired bodies. We set up our sleeping arrangements in the gymnasium and were quick to sleep. Again to sleep under a roof in the warmth of indoors after expecting to sleep under the stars was an illustration of the commitment of everyone involved to get us to Gaza in the most comfortable way possible. I slept with thoughts of the day ahead, a parade to the city of Paris to be greeted by the Deputy Mayor of Bagnolet – The Mayor was in Lebanon paying respects to the victims of Sabra and Shatilla on the anniversary of this horrendous crime by Israel – This ironic pain just added to importance of the Palestian cause. For the first time in a very long time I slept with a sense of satisfaction, for the journey had well and truly begun.

Notes:
1) Apologies on the time delay, apart from putting all my thoughts together, Internet connectivity is intermittent.

2) Media coverage has been noted on Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and PressTV. If you have noted any others please let me know. More importantly ask stations such as the BBC why they have no or limited coverage of the convoy.

3) Photos to be updated when I have a better Internet connection!