Viva Palestina medical Aid Convoy
July 15, 2009
Cairo to Gaza City

Part I - Convoy in Cairo
Part II - The convoy trip to Gaza
Part III - Viewing the aftermath of the attacks

July 15, 2009

Four members of Neturei Karta were among a group of some 200 supporters of the Palestinian cause who made their way to Gaza in the Viva Palestina USA aid convoy led by a British Member of Parliament, George Galloway and New York Councilman, Charles Barron, avoiding travel restrictions imposed on the territory by the Israeli authorities by entering via Egypt. Neturei Karta contributed over $40 thousand dollars to the convoy.

The group received a warm welcome from the Palestinian Prime Minister and leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, who reiterated that his organization's opposition to Israel was not based on a dislike of Jews as a people, but rather was motivated by opposition to the Zionist movement which had shaped the policies of the the current state of Israel since it effectively came into being in 1948.

Allowed only 24 hours in Gaza under threat of not being allowed to return to Egypt, the Viva Palestina convoy was a whirlwind of activity after crossing the border at Rafah.
Organizers attempted to compress 3 days of planned activities into a single day.

News outlets around the world covered the Viva Palestina Convoy story:

• Viva Palestina: 24 Hours in Gaza - The Indypendent
• Anti-Zionist Ultra-Orthodox Jews Visit Gaza - The Tripoli Post
• Ultra-Orthodox Jews visit Hamas - BBC News
• Hamas praises anti-Zionist Jews "heros" against Israel siege - Islam Times
• Haniya meets anti-Zionism Jews rabbis in Gaza - Irib News
• Jews for Gaza and Against Israel - Islam Online
• Rabbi Dovid Weiss of Neturei Karta Speaks in Egypt - Egyptian Chronicles
• Hamas leader meets with Orthodox Jews who Oppose the State of Israel - Digital Journal
• Associated Press
  

Click the start control to listen to audio clip of Rabbi Weiss of Neturei Karta speaking at late night press conference held at the Rafah Crossing into Gaza

Statements Issued by Neturei Karta

• Statement issued by Rabbi Dovid Feldman in NYC prior to departure
• Declaración de Neturei Karta International, Judíos Unidos contra el sionismo, que serán pronunciado en Gaza el 13 de julio de 2009
• Neturei Karta statement to be delivered to Gaza - Arabic
• Neturei Karta Pamphlet to be delivered to Gaza - English
• Neturei Karta Pamphlet to be delivered to Gaza - Arabic
• Neturei Karta Pamphlet to be delivered to Gaza - Arabic - Printable Version in PDF
• Statement issued by Neturei Karta of Orthodox Jewry, Palestine - Printable PDF version
• English/Yiddish Translation of Statement issued by Neturei Karta of Orthodox Jewry, Palestine (printable PDF version)