Last week supporters of Viva Palestina received some upsetting news by e-mail:
A number of supporters are asking about the second flotilla to Gaza. VP was represented on the first flotilla on the Mavi Marmara, which was so brutally attacked by Israeli forces. The trustees have decided that VP cannot be a sponsor the second floitlla [sic] given our charitable status, though we are, of course, entirely supportive of the aim of breaking the siege.
Oh, have Viva Palestina finally realised that they are sailing too close to the legal wind?
The Bank of England, as agent for Her Majesty’s Treasury, has today directed financial institutions that any funds which they hold for or on behalf of Hamas must not be made available to any person, except under the authority of a licence granted by the Treasury. As a result, it is a criminal offence to make funds available to Hamas (contrary to Article 4(9) of the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001).
Or perhaps Viva Palestina’s bankers, the Co-operative Bank, have learned that they are effectively providing financial services to Hamas?
George Galloway handing stacks of cash to Hamas economy minister Ziad Al-Zaza.
Galloway with Hamas Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh. Oh happy days. The poster justifies Hamas rocket attacks: “They stole my land, burnt my olive trees, destroyed my house, took my water, imprisoned my father, killed my mother, starved us all, humiliated us all. But I am to blame : I shot a rocket back. So they stole more of my land, burnt my olive trees, destroyed my house, took my water, bombed my country…”
Hamas says “thanks Viva Palestina” at a rally in Latakia, Syria. Hosted by Hamas, Viva Palestina has used a refugee camp there as a convoy staging post.
Pipa Bartolotti, a former Green Party PPC, waves the flag of the fascist Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Latakia.
Let’s hear from Hamas Syria leader Mousa Abu Marzook! He is the man at the microphones. This picture was taken in Latakia.
An audience with Marzook in Damascus.
Kevin Ovenden, a Galloway sidekick and a trustee of Viva Palestina, recognised for his services to Hamas by Haniyeh. The man in the brown cape is Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a notorious hardcore Hamas leader, hater of Jews and the West, and Holocaust denier.
Ovenden relaxing with Bulent Yildirim (left), the president of Turkish charity IHH, a key partner of Viva Palestina. The head of IHH’s Gaza operation has said “We only work through Hamas” and “We consider Israel and the United Nations to be the terrorists, not Hamas.” Yildirim adores Hamas.
Here Majdi Aqil, a former member of Hamas and now an employee of Interpal, another British charity that serves Hamas, hands out cash in Gaza during a Viva Palestina convoy visit.
More fun with Ismail Haniyeh and Mahmoud Al-Zahar. The man on the right in the beige suit is Mohammed Sawalha, the fugitive Hamas commander and Istanbul declaration signatory who has taken refuge in Britain. He is an important operator in Viva Palestina’s Hamas support mission.
So if Viva Palestina won’t be taking part in the next flotilla, what are people who want to help a terrorist group whose charter calls for racist genocide supposed to do? Don’t despair! Viva Palestina says “please refer any questions you have about to [sic] forthcoming flotilla to the organisers in Britain – an umbrella group, Britain 2 Gaza”.
Who are they? Ah:
The Britain 2 Gaza mission is being brought together by 5 British campaign groups; Friends of Al Aqsa, the British Muslim Initiative, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition and the Palestinian Forum of Britain.
Friends of Al Aqsa is the Israel hatred group of Ismail Patel, a Hamas supporter and antisemite. The British Muslim Initiative is an Islamist campaigning group headed by Mohammed Sawalha. Its people include Anas Al-Tikriti, Ismail Patel, and Azzam “Kaboom” Tamimi. The Palestinian Forum of Britain is another band of Hamasniks which promotes hate preachers, such as Wagdi Ghoneim.
What a great line-up to join forces with the street thugs of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the “resistance” supporters of the Stop the War Coalition.
How about an uplifting round of “Khaybar” chants at the next “Britain 2 Gaza” meeting.
