MEMBERS of the mercy mission taking medical supplies from York to Gaza went on hunger strike after the Egyptian government refused them permission to enter its territory.

Heather and Steve Stroud, Nicholas Hall and Mike Gwilliam, all from North Yorkshire, are travelling with an old NHS ambulance as part of a large convoy from the UK, which was due to reach the Palestinian area of Gaza yesterday.

But as their hoped for arrival time passed, the convoy was 150 miles away from the Gaza Strip in Aqaba, Jordan, unable to board the ferry to its destination and facing a choice between an 800-mile trek by desert or sea, or having to abandon their journey.

At midday GMT, the York contingent sent a twitter message saying: “We are fasting in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The story today should be about Israeli war crimes, not Egyptian blocking.”

Earlier, Nick had said: “We feel great frustration at being balked here in Aqaba when the Gaza Strip is only 150 miles away.”

Other members of the convoy were also on hunger strike, which had been planned before the ban, and had declared that the 800-mile detour to avoid passing into Egypt was impossible for financial and other reasons. Supporters also held a vigil in York yesterday. Before the Egyptian ban, the team’s spirits had been high. Carol Pearman, who is keeping in touch with the crew on their journey, said: “They are absolutely fine. It’s pretty exhausting because it has been non-stop. But I think they caught up on some sleep in a hotel when they got to Amman (Jordan’s capital) – they are buoyed by enthusiasm.”

Mrs Pearman said the convoy was not without its difficulties, and had recently spent six hours at the Jordanian border, where some members of the convoy had their passports temporarily confiscated.

The ambulance set off from York for London earlier this month before joining a convoy of other vehicles leaving the capital. The vehicles then headed through France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. The progress of the York ambulance can be followed on the Twitter web site by going to twitter.com/yorktogaza

There is also a regularly updated blog, at yorktogaza.blogspot.com