Demo at Egyptian embassy, as European MPs dismayed at Egyptian procrastination

[ 10/01/2010 - 01:51 PM ]

ROME, (PIC)-- Tens of Italians and sympathizers with the Palestine cause demonstrated in front of the Egyptian embassy in Rome on Saturday to protest the Egyptian construction of the steel wall along the borders with Gaza Strip and the obstacles put by Egypt before relief convoys to Gaza. The demonstrators carried placards denouncing the Egyptian authorities for mistreating members of the international aid convoy Lifeline-3 who came from 17 countries in a show of solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza. European institutions supporting Gaza had called for picketing Egyptian embassies in Europe to protest Cairo's participation in the siege on Gaza. In a related context, the European campaign to lift the siege on Gaza said that European MPs were frustrated with the Egyptian procrastination concerning their wish to travel to Gaza via Egyptian territory. It said in a statement on Saturday that more than 50 lawmakers from 17 European countries were still awaiting the Egyptian response to their intention to visit Gaza. The campaign recalled that it notified the Egyptian foreign ministry over a month and a half ago on the visit but no reply was made by the ministry. It said that the MPs would raise the issue during their parliaments' sessions and would officially ask for an explanation for barring them from visiting Gaza to inquire about the humanitarian conditions there.