The Artery Of Life 5 solidarity flotilla had officially kicked of its trip to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian supplies and challenge Israel’s 4-year old illegal siege on the coastal region. Spokesperson of the flotilla, Zaher Al Beerawi, stated that the flotilla started its trip on Saturday after an official ceremony near Big Ben Tower in London.
Al Beerawi added that flotilla will be heading to France for one night in order to meet with a number of civil society institutions participating in the trip before heading to Leon in Italy then Greece, Turkey then Syria.
They are scheduled to reach the Syrian shores by October 1st or 2nd. Participants will be meeting with Arab and African activists.
The flotilla will carry 200 cars and 400 activists; it will then be sailing from Syria to Al Arish Port in Egypt before attempting to reach the Rafah Terminal to cross into the Gaza Strip.
Al Beerawi said that, so far, there is no coordination with Egypt regarding allowing the convoy to cross into Gaza, but added that the Rafah Terminal is supposedly open, therefore there should be no obstacles.
Yet he added that, before leaving Syria, flotilla organizers will be contacting the Egyptian Authorities in order to provide them with all needed information.
