Lifeline 5 Convoy Arrives in France, Syrian Aid Ship Arrives in Al Arish

A convoy of hundreds of vehicles, dubbed the Viva Palestina Lifeline 5, hoping to break "Israel's" Gaza naval blockade, has arrived in France and was welcomed by hundreds of French peace activists and Palestinians living in the country.

The convoy organized by former British lawmaker George Galloway left London for the Gaza Strip on Saturday, September 18.

It will pass through various European countries where it will be joined by pro-Palestinian activists.

It will then go to Syria and meet trucks from Jordan. The convoy will then leave the Syrian port of Latakia and sail to the Egyptian port of Al Arish.

On the same note, a Syrian aid ship heading to Gaza had arrived at Al Arish Port in Egypt on Sunday evening, and that the ship will be towed to the dock in order to be emptied under the supervision of the Red Crescent before the supplies are sent to Gaza by land.

The Syrian ship carries 650 Tons of humanitarian supplies, including 40 Tons of medical supplies donated by Syrian private institutions, according to Lieutenant Hisham Al Janayni, assistant-director of Al Arish Port.

The Egyptian Red Crescent will be attempting to deliver the supplies through the Rafah Border Terminal and the Al Oja Terminal in compliance with Egyptian regulations.

While Syrian aid ship makes its way through, it remains unclear whether Egypt will allow Lifeline 5 through especially since Egypt declared British Parliamentarian, George Galloway, as a persona non grata.

Galloway was deported from Egypt following clashes that took place after Egyptian security forces attacked a previous solidarity convoy that was heading to Gaza. An Egyptian border policeman was killed by a bullet allegedly fired by Palestinian gunmen in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, during clashes with Egyptian border police officers.

The illegal "Israeli"-imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the coastal enclave.

Some 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.