TEHRAN (FNA) -- Head of Bahrain's delegation in the Asian Aid Caravan to Gaza (Asia 1) praised the Iranian nation and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei for their assistance with the accomplishment of the convoy's mission.

The humanitarian aid convoy “Asia 1” for Palestinians of the Gaza Strip arrived in the Palestinian territories on Monday. Gaza has been under Israeli blockade since four years ago.
As part of the convoy, a ship named Salam, which sailed from the Syrian port of Latakia, brought humanitarian supplies to the residents of Gaza.
According to FNA dispatches, Mohammad Shahabi, head of the Bahrini delegation of activists, underlined Iran's significant role in facilitating and coordinating the caravan's journey to the Gaza Strip, and lauded the wise guidance provided by Ayatollah Khamenei for the humanitarian mission.
“Most of the humanitarian aids have been procured by the financial and public aids provided by the Iranian nation,” Shahabi stressed.
Pointing to Egypt's refusal to grant visas to the Iranian delegation, Shahabi said that Cairo's move has saddened the members of the convoy.
The Egyptian authorities granted visas to 120 activists but refused entry to several members of the caravan, including seven Iranian MPs.
Cairo denied entry to seven Iranian members of parliament on board. Several activists, from over 18 countries, were also denied entry.
Egypt's approval is required to reach the Gaza Strip through the shared Rafah crossing, particularly since Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip was tightened in 2007.
The convoy, which currently has activists from 18 different nationalities onboard, began its journey from the Indian capital, New Delhi and traveled through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Lebanon.
The activists say they want to display solidarity with the Palestinian people in their resistance against Israel. The Asian peace activists hope that the move would provide a good opportunity for breaking the siege of Gaza.
The move came nearly seven months after Israeli forces raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31. Over 100 Israeli soldiers supported by military choppers boarded a Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara, leading the six-ship convoy in international waters.
The Israeli commandoes killed 20 international human rights activists and wounded 80 more. Nine of the victims were Turkish nationals. Some members of the European parliaments, former western diplomats, reporters and human rights activists were among the victims of Israel's brutal act.
The siege of Gaza started in June 2007 when Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip. This was supported by the governments of Egypt and the U.S.
The blockade consists of a land blockade along Gaza's borders with Egypt and Israel and a sea blockade. It immediately followed the 2006-2007 economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority following the election of Hamas to the Palestinian government.
The blockade has attracted criticism from many Human Rights organizations. September 2009 UN fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza “amounted to collective punishment” was likely a war crime and a crime against humanity and recommended that the matter be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).