Salma Yaqoob

The Viva Palestina convoy arrived in Turkey on Monday in the latest leg of their trip to Gaza. For the duration of their stay in Turkey the convoy is being hosted by the IHH Human Rights Foundation, which was the key organiser of the Gaza flotilla violently attacked by Israel this summer while on another mission to deliver humanitarian relief to the walled-off Gaza strip.

Ahmet Emin Dag, the Deputy Chairman of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation said: “The goal of the convoy is to ship humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians and to attract the attention on the ongoing humanitarian tragedy there.”

Ron Mckay, the team leader of Gaza Europe Convoy, said they would visit the families of the nine Turks killed by the Israelis during their assault on the Mavi Marmara ship.

The convoy will depart from Turkey on October 1 and proceed to Syria, where it will transfer to ships, travel to Egypt, and proceed to enter Gaza via the Refah border gate. It is hoped the convoy will arrive in Gaza mid-October and by that time it is expected to be 150-200 vehicles strong.

My thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with all those taking part.