The 200-vehicle convoy passed through İstanbul, Ankara, Konya, Adana and Gaziantep and received a heartfelt welcome by the Turkish people who gathered in each city to greet the members of the multinational convoy and show their solidarity with the Gazans, impoverished by the years-long Israeli embargo.Members of the convoy spent their nights sleeping in sleeping bags on the floors of cultural centers and sport halls. The convoy was greeted by large-scale demonstrations in each city it visited in shows of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Huge Palestinian flags were carried and support for the Palestinian people was voiced everywhere it went.
Latif Selvi, the president of Konya’s NGO platform, addressed the crowd as the convoy reached Konya on Friday, saying: “I greet the entire group that will go to Gaza. Let this case of compassion be an example to the world.”
“Gaza is the people’s conscience. We call upon everyone to take up the Gazan cause,” said Veli Tolu, Konya provincial head of the Felicity Party (SP). Kevin Ovenden, an organizer for the UK part of the convoy, said they were warmly welcomed in Turkey and found the people of Turkey to be genuinely concerned about the Palestinian issue. Bülent Yıldırım, president of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) and the organizer of the Turkish leg of the convoy, said: “If British citizens go to Gaza, leaving behind their families and children, then we have to do much more. We as Muslims should help our brothers and sisters there. I am urging everyone to take to the streets if this convoy is not let into Gaza from Egypt.”
“I am calling on Arab leaders in particular. If Gaza goes down, you will go down too. Gaza is the cause for all of us. I am urging everyone to support this convoy,” he added. The convoy’s journey through Turkey ended with their programs in Adana and Gaziantep.
The 200-car convoy is made up of cars from Britain, France, Italy, Greece, the United States, Turkey and Arab countries. The convoy will attempt to enter Gaza on Dec. 27, the first anniversary of Israel’s assault on Gaza, through the only border gate to Gaza, the Rafah border gate. The Egyptian administration has kept the gate closed for years under an agreement signed with Israel. There is a considerable concern that Egypt will create additional problems for the convoy despite the convoy members’ determination to enter isolated Gaza. The convoy will be passing through Syria, Jordan and Egypt on its way to Gaza.
