Day 30

Sunday 17th October
Well do you want the good news, the bad news, or very bad news?
The good news is that we have eventually got a definate go ahead to move from Lattakia. I know i have been saying that for over a week now, but the Egyptians keep throwing obstacles at us. We have jumped through many hoops and loops.
So in the morning we will be boarding the ship, well most of us.
The bad news is that we have eventually been told that there are 5 British people and some Jordanians who have been refused entry. Our leaders have tried their best to reason with the Egyptians, but how do you reason with someone who has no reason.
We are told that everyone else will be allowed to board the ship and land into Egypt after a grueling 18 hour journey, possibly more. George is at the camp since last night and has given us the full update. He gave a stirring speech as usual about the humanitarian efforts of all the volunteers who have battled every obstacle thrown at us and got this far, only to be told at the last hurdle that at least for some the game is over.
Now for the very bad news, of the volunteers refused entry into Egypt one of them Amina, the representative of the Palestine solidarity campaign has been accused of being married to one of the leaders of the convoy. Amina has never been married, especially to George who did once have a wife called Amina, but not this Amina.
One 73 year old Jordanian man is being refused entry because they think he is Turkish! Since when has it been a crime to be Turkish?
One person refused entry has never been on a convoy and has no interest to be on one and is not even here with us? Figure that one out. The Egyptian security forces and their intelligence is a joke. So lets all have a laugh at their incompetence. HA HA HA HA. Even Mr Bean could have been more effective.
And finally, my name is also on the list of those refused entry into Egypt. No reason has been given. But i am sure if they had it would have been something like they don't like my charm.
The other leaders of VP will be allowed to enter but only the five named on the UK list are denied entry after over a month of hard graft on the road. It is rather heartbreaking and in truth my heart bleeds tears of blood as hundreds of people from all the countries we have passed through, have signed my beige coloured suit with messages of hope, unity and solidarity for our charity and for the people of Gaza who are suffering every day. I was hoping to personally deliver this to Gaza with the aid that i have been carrying.
Now for the twist, i for one intend to board the ship in the morning and attempt to get to Al Arish Egypt come hell or high water, i will now give up so easily. They will have to arrest me, drown me in the Meditranean sea, or deport me back to my beloved UK. I did not carry the hopes and prayers of my community in Bradford to give up so easily.
If i am not allowed to board the ship by the captain of the ship then i am in deep creek without a paddle, but i shall cross that bridge when i come to it, if there is a bridge, which i hope there is., cos i cant swim.
If i am not allowed to board then i may have to part company with all my colleagues and maybe cry a few quiet tears. But the important work that we are doing must carry on. 1.5 million palestinians are depending on us.
After all our British Prime Minister David Cameron has described Gaz as a prison camp. What does someone in prison look forward to most? Its an occasional visitor. 1.5 million palestinians in an open air prison and the world stays quiet and says nothing.
All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to say and do nothing. We will not be quiet. We will do in our power to raise the awareness about the plight of the 1.5 million people imprisoned in their own land.
It may be some time before i can do any further reports if i am arrested, but i cannot with all my conscience not fight back against this decision. I must make my last stand. I just must.