[Ma'an] The Egyptian government has the right to determine through which port aid convoys to Gaza can arrive, and to request cooperation from the activists, Husam Zaki, spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry told Egyptian TV on Monday. Zaki told Egypt's Channel Two that activists had finally listened to government orders, saying they would re-route the convoy to travel via Al-Arish, the Mediterranean port, rather than Nuweiba, the Red Sea port.
Viva Palestina organizers lamented in a statement that the demand would "add days and costs to the journey, as it [would] entail hiring ships and sailing around the Sinai Peninsula through the Suez canal." The first two convoys also traveled to Gaza via Al-Arish, and organizers did not explain why they had changed course for this trip.
The first Viva Palestina convoy, backed by British MP George Galloway, started in the UK, went south to Spain, then across North Africa to Egypt. For second convoy, in June, delegates flew into Cairo and drove equipment to the Rafah crossing.
The latest convoy travelled through Europe to Turkey and down to Jordan via Syria. Egyptian spokesman Zaki said he understood why the group chose to travel through Turkey.
"We realized the political goals behind passage through Turkey, most of the participants and the aid were from Turkey," Zaki said. He said Egypt had no problem with Turkish aid and Viva Palestina delegates coming into the country, but asked that participants respect the government decision.
He explained that a route for the convoy via Al-Arish had been approved by Egypt's security services, adding that all aid destined for Gaza was required to clear at the port in Al-Arish only.
Zaki said the convoy organizers were informed of the rules, but said the "did not even bother to reply" to the Egyptian communiqué.
Organizers told Ma'an they notified Egyptian officials of both the route of the third convoy and details of all the participants "well in advance" of the travel date, and added that they were only told of the rules preventing them from using the Nuwbia port on 21 December.
Zaki said the route for the convoy via Al-Arish had been approved by Egypt's security services, adding that all aid destined for Gaza was required to clear at the port in Al-Arish only.
Zaki said the convoy organizers were informed of the rules, but said the "did not even bother to reply" to the Egyptian communiqué. A spokeswoman from the Viva Palestina office in London said the accusation was false.