(NEWS) Bristol Volunteers Set Off On Gaza Aid Convoy

"Members of the Bristol Gaza Link leave the city today to take essential supplies across to the country.

The organisation is joining up the Road To Hope convoy which leaves London tomorrow.

They will be driving through Europe and crossing over by ferry to Tripoli in Libya before travelling via Egypt to Gaza, arriving at the end of October.



Fundraising has been taking place of the last three weeks to enable them to buy the vehicles to make the journey. They will be packed full of medical supplies and educational material for the people of Gaza.

The team leaving today includes Ebrahim Musaji who along with Sakir Yildirim and Cliff Hanley from Bristol, was on-board the Mavi Marmara in May which was raided by Israeli forces.

Nine people were killed during the attacks.

Dr Judith Brown is the Vice Chair of the organisation. She told us they know the risks involved and have planned a careful route: 'We've tried to be as careful. We're tried to take the stuff via a route which is less provocative because we're going over land through a North Africa route, rather than through Syria which is a more difficult route from the point of possible confrontation with Israelis.'

She added that since the attacks on the Mavi Marmara, some countries have been become more supportive: 'Since the Mavi Marmara incident, the Egyptian authorities have been more helpful than in the past. They have been allowing convoys to enter Gaza from the end.

'So we are hoping by choosing a less provocative route, we won't meet any major problems.'

There will be a big send off for the team today with speeches from local politicians and live music at the Black Development Agency, Russell Town Avenue, Lawrence Hill from 11am." (source)