Day 18-21

Day 18- Dec 24th
In the morning a minibus arrives around 9 and takes us back to the compound. Apparently the building was completely full of men last night and it was difficult to get a spot. We discover that there is going to be a problem with passing through Aqaba- Nuweiba. There will be negotiations and these could take some time. Some people are planning to get alternative accommodation in town and some have discovered a few resources locally like a cafe that has wifi which will be useful. There is quite a lot of confusion as to what will now happen. We are reminded that we are currently ahead of schedule. We are asked to send out info about our situation to friends and family. We are asked to try to locate the churches and mosques locally to tell them about what we are doing and what is happening. There is a Greek Orthodox church nearby that a few of us go to. Because of the disruption to the journey many people have questions and there are not really any answers apart from sit tight, remember that Jordan is a supportive country for us and think of ways we can commemorate the anniversary of the attacks on Gaza on 27th. Diplomatic efforts are going to take place with the Turkish organization IHH likely to take the lead. Our Malaysian leader Matthias decides to depart for Cairo in order to make efforts on behalf of Malaysia and Perdana Peace Organisation. We have the use of a large compound and yard not far from the centre of Aqaba. Many of the Turkish contingent have set up tents in the yard. There are large tables set up onto which food is brought at regular intervals during the day. The weather is sunny and warm. Some people are frustrated, not surprising as we are separated from our stuff, not able to travel through as planned and having to re-structure our time. There are no real answers and in addition to this when the group has been asked to turn up for a meeting not everyone turns up as they are beginning to be dotted about town and even when they do the main organizers are often engaged in meetings together within the building. George G is here and a lot of cameras from Turkey, Al Jazeera, local stations. Leah and I decide we need to get up to the vehicle somehow to get more than what we are standing in. Some bus transport has been arranged but we also get offered a lift by a local man. Half way up the hill to the car park his engine overheats and we jump out, the bus comes past and picks us up. At the vehicles I decide to try to get the van out. I drive it to the gate of the car park but there is a police officer there – he speaks sympathetically but after conversing with his superior the answer is no. I explain we need to get the aid to town to have photos taken of it – still no. It is unnerving that we don't seem able to move. Due to messing about with the vehicle Leah and I have missed the bus back to town but a film crew is still on their way out and have a press pass so we can jump in with them. A hotel owner in town has offered free accommodation to many members of the convoy. Other hotels are offering discounts. I join up with three others and we get a double room rate in a simple clean hotel nearby the yard so can get a shower and recharge batteries etc.


Day 19 – Christmas Day
Still no news apart from the conditions that Egypt have set out which is that Viva Palestina convoy must enter by El Arish port to Egypt, they want us to negotiate with Israeli authorities (why?? Israel do not occupy Gaza any more do they and we are not passing through Israeli territory either – a bit mystifying) also they want us to hand the aid over to UNRWA – United Nations Relief and Works Agency for working with Palestinian Refugees. George Galloway explains to the crowd and the media that we will not be doing the last two things that is for sure. Our aid is for Palestinian people as sovereign people in their own land not refugees and negotiating with Israel when we are not going through their territory is ludicrous notwithstanding their Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is wanted on an arrest warrant issued in UK for investigation into war crimes due to the attacks on Gaza under Operation Cast Lead – which is why we are all here.

Day 20 – 26th
Meeting times are arranged but don't happen on time. Regular food is being provided in the yard at the centre. Negotiations on behalf of the convoy are ongoing. People have come up with ideas for tomorrow including a candlelit vigil, press releases and contacts to MPs are being made. A member John Hurson calls for a hunger strike – many people volunteer. It is decided this should start at 11.25 on 27th to mark the anniversary with 15 people per day being added to until we get a response from Cairo.

Day 21 – 27th

Anniversary of the attacks on Gaza. The idea is for the convoy to walk slowly to the Egyptian consulate and for the hunger strikers to be photographed there. As it happens most of the UK convoy members start marching with the banners made yesterday towards the consulate at around 11:30am. The group manages to get around 500 yards along the road before it is stopped by police. It is not conflict situation however the group is stopped on the roundabout between the compound and the consulate. This means that quite a lot of those driving past do get to see the marchers. It is then that Kevin is asked to attend Aqaba governor's office to meet him. He asks three of us to join him as a delegation leaving the UK convoy on the road. The local café comes out and gives water to the marchers who are now waiting in the sun. We go in a car to the Governor's office. Kevin explains that Viva Palestina want to have a very small event in the town, perhaps in a square, to remember Gaza and to allow the people of Aqaba to meet the members. He and Caoimhe (an active campaigner and worker in solidarity with Palestine for many years) speak eloquently about how it is a small and peaceful event we require. Despite his polite and welcoming words the Governor is not to be moved. He says we have the compound and yard and people can come and see us there. There is to be no event or demonstration in town. Disappointing but he seems quite clear. We are not in an argument with Jordan and so will need to avoid conflict here. The news is disappointing to the members. Some decide to continue in a roundabout way to the consulate. We explain that there is little we can do but ask members to be imaginative. In this town it is very difficult to have open meetings and plans as the mahabarat (secret/ plain clothed police) are all over the place mixing with the crowd and will thwart any attempts at direct action as they just have done with the march. If we have to stay at the compound I decide we could try and get people to come to the evening event at 7pm there. I find a local printer and get some fliers made up in English and Arabic. Unfortunately I cannot find anyone to help me apart from a local man who drives me around to the tourist areas. I walk about handing out fliers and talking to people who show interest. Many locals are very supportive and most of the tourists I meet.
Back at the compound at 7 and the rally event is about to begin. It dawns on all of us here that the event is not what we expected. Militaristic music and imagery starts up and a video of guns, young people etc is on screen. This is not Viva Palestina stuff. I text all my members and speak to anyone around to encourage them to leave the event. I can see Kevin stating in very certain terms to one of the local organizers that there is no way that VP or George will be standing on this platform tonight with this imagery. So sudden change of plan and the convoy members troop down the road to be spoken to by George outside a café.

George explains to everyone what the agreement in principle is with El Arish being the port the Egyptian authorities want us to go to. He explains IHH have negotiated that the aid be channeled through IHH in Gaza not UNRWA and that we will not be negotiating with Israel. The dates for getting into Gaza however have now slipped and it is going to take some time to reach our destination. The ultimate decision of the Egyptian authorities has drawn the attention of the media to the convoy and the issues – if we had not come to this border we would not have demonstrated this standoff. One or two convoy members say they want to get vehicles down to the port and demonstrate there. George explains no – that our argument is not with Jordan, that the Jordanian authorities will stop at absolutely nothing to stop us if we go against wishes and that we all need to get on alive. Said from our team starts saying “what we plan to do is...” George stops him and says we should not be stating what we plan to do unless we want it to be stopped! We will need to drive back up to Syria, identify a port, arrange transport and get us all to El Arish. George explains that if anyone has to go home by first week of January then they should not come back with us. Cedric realises that he will not be coming any further now as he has to get back to Switerland by 1st Jan in order to take teenagers on a holiday camp. He is absolutely gutted and so am I – this is the first convoy member from our team to have to leave and he has been such a good support and companion. Later on I also realise that Leah has a leaving date very soon as well – she will need to leave from here too so that's both my dear cab mates. The group disperses slowly, Cedric is offered support by a few people in the form of commiserations, a phone number in Cairo of a person from Code Pink Gaza Freedom march and I say I will go with him to get his things from the vehicle and check about onward travel to Cairo. Back at the compound we bump into Saj and Muqtal who also want to go to the car park. An interested local has pulled over in his car – he is wearing scrubs and says he is a doctor from the local military hospital. He offers to take us up the hill. Frist of all we are quite pleased about this as he is driving a large comfortable car – however we set off in the wrong direction and after 20-30 mins or so it becomes clear he does not have a clue where we are going. We stop numerous times while he asks locals and this also proves fruitless. We end up heading back to square one and from here Muqtal can direct us. By the time we get the things back from the vehicle it has taken us two hours to travel 20 miles. It is almost 1am.