American activist Hedy Epstein
Photo: AFP
Peace activists in Cairo
Photo: AP
Holocaust survivor stages hunger strike for Gaza
American activist Hedy Epstein, other grandmothers wearing 'The Audacity of War Crimes' T-shirts protest Cairo's refusal to allow them to march to Strip in memory of Operation Cast Lead victims
An 85-year-old Holocaust survivor was among a group of grandmothers who began a hunger strike in Cairo on Monday to protest against Egypt's refusal to allow a Gaza solidarity march to proceed.
American activist Hedy Epstein and other grandmothers participating in the Gaza Freedom March began a hunger strike at 1000 GMT.
Hamas-Ruled Territory
At precise time at which Operation Cast Lead started, siren sounded throughout Gaza Strip in memorial for its victims. Hamas prime minister: We forced enemy to retreat without violating our principles. Memorial activities to last 22 days, same as war
"I've never done this before, I don't know how my body will react, but I'll do whatever it takes," Epstein told AFP, sitting on a chair surrounded by hundreds of protesters outside the United Nations building in Cairo.
Egyptian authorities had said it would not allow any of the 1,300 protesters who have come to Egypt from 42 countries to take part in the march to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, the only entry that bypasses Israel.
High-ranking officers and riot police were deployed on the Nile bank where the UN building is located and where hundreds of Gaza Freedom March participants asked the United Nations to mediate with the Egyptian government to let their convoy into Gaza.
"We met with the UN resident coordinator in Cairo James Rawley and we are waiting for a response," Philippine Senator Walden Bello told protesters.
"We will wait as long as it takes," he said.
Protesters who wore T-shirts with "The Audacity of War Crimes" and "We will not be silent" held a giant Palestinian flag, as others sang, danced and shouted "Freedom for Gaza" in various languages.
'They want to embarrass Egypt'
Separately, organizers of another aid convoy trying to reach the blockaded Gaza Strip -- Viva Palestina led by British MP George Galloway -- said it will head to Syria on Monday en route for Egypt after being stranded in Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba for five days.
Turkey dispatched an official on Saturday to try to convince the Egyptians to allow Viva Palestina to go through the Red Sea port of Nuweiba -- the most direct route but Egypt insisted that the convoy can only enter through El-Arish, on its Mediterranean coast.
The Gaza Freedom March and Viva Palestina were planning to arrive one year after Israel's war against Hamas, which killed 1,400 Palestinians. Thirteen Israelis also died.
Meanwhile, at least 300 French participants of the Gaza Freedom March spent the night camped out in front of their embassy in Cairo, bringing a major road in the capital to a halt, as riot police wielding plexiglass shields surrounded them.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki accused the French protesters of lying and trying to embarrass Egypt.
"They claimed they had aid to carry to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which is a lie," the MENA news agency quoted Zaki as saying.
"They want media exposure and to pressure and embarrass Egypt," he said.
On Sunday, police briefly detained 38 international participants in the Sinai town of El-Arish, organizers said.
"At noon (1000 GMT) on December 27, Egyptian security forces detained a group of 30 activists in their hotel in El-Arish as they prepared to leave for Gaza, placing them under house arrest. The delegates, all part of the Gaza Freedom March of 1,300 people, were Spanish, French, British, American and Japanese," a statement on the group's website said.
"Another group of eight people, including American, British, Spanish, Japanese and Greek citizens, were detained at the bus station of El-Arish in the afternoon of December 27," they said.
On Sunday, Egyptian police also stopped some 200 protesters from renting boats on the Nile to hold a procession to commemorate those who died in the Gaza war.
On December 31, participants are hoping to join Palestinians "in a non-violent march from northern Gaza to the Erez-Israeli border," the organizers said.
