An aid convoy headed for Gaza was stopped at the Balouza security checkpoint in North Sinai on Saturday afternoon, a few kilometres away from the Rafah border crossing. Comprised of 11 buses, the convoy aimed to deliver food and medicine to the besieged Palestinian city of Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip on Thursday night, almost 10 days after the start of its offensive on the strip. The offensive has thus far left over 300 Palestinians and at least two Israelis killed. Tarek Al-Awady, member of the coordinating committee of the Popular Committee to Support the Palestinians' Uprising, said military forces at the Balouza checkpoint told participants in the convoy only the medicine and food would be allowed to cross over to Gaza, adding that the people would be forced to turn around and head back. A military source, however, said the convoy was stopped to be "searched" by security forces, adding that the delay in allowing the convoy to pass is due to its large size. "This [procedure] is logical and normal," said the military source, who preferred to remain anonymous. The aid convoy took off from outside the Press Syndicate in downtown Cairo on Saturday at dawn. Al-Awady, who helped organise the convoy, said it was escorted by security forces since its takeoff, adding that security forces facilitated the convoy's travel through the Suez Canal. "They then stopped the convoy at the Balouza checkpoint for two hours under the pretext that they are waiting for security forces to escort them into Rafah," Al-Awady said. "Two hours later, the participants in the convoy were told they cannot cross over since they don't have a permit. When the participants protested the decision, security forces raised their guns at them." Al-Awady said that the medicines transferred have been approved by the Ministry of Health. At time of publishing, participants in the aid convoy were negotiating with security forces to allow them to cross over. The aid convoy was organised by the Popular Committee to Support the Palestinians' Uprising, alongside other political movements including: Al-Dostour Party, Misr Al-Qawia (Strong Egypt) Party and Al-Tayar Al-Shaaby (Popular Current). The same group of political parties and movements called on Egyptian authorities to "indefinitely" open the Rafah border crossing last week.
