Ismailia: Egypt will allow an Asian aid convoy to enter the Gaza Strip through its Rafah border but has barred Iranian activists from travelling with the convoy for security reasons, Egyptian sources said on Friday.
The Asia 1 convoy's 120 activists from 18 Asian countries sailed yesterday from the Syrian Al Ladhiqiyah port en route to Egypt's Arish harbour in Arish city, 40km from Egypt's Rafah border with Gaza.
Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took control of the territory.
The convoy will be allowed to take its 300 tonnes of medical aid, including four ambulances, for Palestinians in Gaza through the Rafah border, security sources said.
Security sources said Iranians were denied access for "security and organisational reasons," without giving details.
It was not known how many Iranian activists intended to travel on the convoy.
US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks have shown Egypt was wary of Iran's spreading influence in the region.
One cable quoted Egypt's spy chief Omar Sulaiman as saying Iran was giving Hamas $25 million (Dh92 million) a month in funds, but that Egypt was preventing financial support entering Gaza.
Iran claims its support for Hamas is diplomatic only.
