New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) A group of 60 people from across India were flagged off Thursday on a humanitarian visit to Gaza as part of an Asian outreach initiative, but the organisers said Pakistan is yet to issue visas, jeopardising the entire trip.
Under the banner of Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine (APSP), the group will be joined by around 400 activists from other Asian countries like Nepal, Japan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan during the ‘Asian Land Convoy to Gaza’.
The caravan will travel across Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and attempt to break through the Israeli blockade and enter Gaza Dec 27, the anniversary of the 2008 Gaza conflict.
‘We believe that there must be a strong Asian involvement in the global movement to end the siege of Gaza and for the liberation of Palestine,’ organiser Aashim Roy said.
Calling themselves ‘satyagrahis’, the group flagged off their march at Mahatma Gandhi’s Rajghat memorial here, carrying medicines and humanitarian aid worth Rs.35 lakh.
The group is sheduled to go to Pakistan via Amritsar, but visas are still to be issued.
‘We are waiting in the Pakistan high commission for the clearance. If the visa problems are sorted out then we would proceed with our journey or else they will be a delay,’ co-ordinator of the trip Rakhi Seghal said.
‘Through this land caravan trip, India plays a part in initiating and building the Asian process for solidarity with Palestine,’ Roy said.
