The “Miles Of Smiles 17” solidarity convoy managed to enter the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening through the Rafah Border Terminal between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.113 convoy members from different Arabic and foreign countries entered the coastal region to deliver 25 wheel-chair accessible vans, 50 tons of wheat and 40 tons of medications.
Sources at the Palestinian side of the Rafah Border Terminal stated that Egypt rarely allows food supplies into the Gaza Strip via Rafah. It usually demands that all such supplies should go through that Karem Abu Salem, or Kerem Shalom, Crossing controlled by Israel.
The sources added that the supplies were allowed through as part of new decisions made by Egypt’s President, Mohammad Morsi, aiming at breaking the siege on Gaza.
It is worth noting that although in many cases the Miles of Smiles convoys have been delayed by Egypt, all have been able to enter the Gaza Strip.
On Saturday Sept. 29, the “Miles Of Smiles 16” Solidarity Convoy arrived in the Gaza Strip carrying 38 solidarity activists and medical supplies urgently needed in the besieged coastal region.
The first Miles of Smiles convoy made it into the Gaza Strip in mid-November 2009, after being stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Border Terminal for 25 days.
