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<h1><font size=4><b>Gaza Convoy Blocked in
Egypt</b></font></h1>
<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/date.gif" width=12 height=10 alt="author">
</b></h1><font size=3> Friday December 31, 2010
13:51<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/person.gif" width=14 height=12 alt="author">
by Alessandra Bajec - IMEMC & Agencies<br>
<a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/60318" eudora="autourl">
http://www.imemc.org/article/60318<br><br>
</a></font>Egypt stopped activists on the Asia 1 aid convoy from reaching
the Gaza Strip, an Egyptian daily newspaper quoted in Press TV reported
on Thursday.<br><br>
Around 50 Iranian and Jordanian activists aboard Gaza-bound Asia 1 were
banned from entering the Strip, after Egyptian diplomatic sources in
Damascus informed the convoy of a permit to allow only 120 activists to
pass through Egypt, via el-Arish port. <br><br>
Egypt was also reportedly impeding entry of 10 generators donated by
Iranians. The move is thought to reduce the humanitarian convoy to below
300 tons, and limit the goods allowed in the coastal enclave to food and
medicines. <br><br>
Activists on the Asia 1 come from more than 15 countries including Iran,
India, Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Kuwait.
<br><br>
The aid convoy was expected to reach Gaza by December 27, in time for the
second anniversary of Israel's December 2008-January 2009 attack on the
Strip. The convoy has travelled 7,000 kilometers but was blocked last
week in Latikia, in Syria, while waiting for Egypt's permission.<br><br>
Gaza has been under Israel-imposed blockade since 2007. The siege, which
also denies the entry of building materials into Gaza, resulted into
destruction of half of Gaza's infrastructure which today remains
unrepaired. <br><br>
<br><br>
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