Viva Palestina

Viva Palestina ("Long live Palestine") is a British-based organisation formerly registered as a charity.<ref name=3rd sector">David Ainsworth "Commission removes Galloway's Viva Palestina from the charities register", Third Sector", 5 November 2013</ref> The body came into being in January 2009 with the initial intention of running a convoy of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Its aims are the "provision from the UK of food, medicine and essential goods and services needed by the civilian population" [of the occupied Palestinian Territories] and "highlighting the causes and results of wars with a view to achieving peace."

Background

Viva Palestina was established during the Gaza War in January 2009 by a group including British politician George Galloway.

First convoy (early 2009)

On 14 February 2009, after raising over £1 million-worth of humanitarian aid in under four weeks, hundreds of volunteers launched the first convoy comprising approximately 110 vehicles intended for use in Gaza. Among these were a fire engine donated by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), twelve ambulances, a boat and trucks full of medicines, tools, clothes, blankets and gifts for children. The 5,000-mile route passed through Belgium, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.