Land convoy sets off for Gaza from Tunisia to protest against Israeli blockade of Strip

Published on 09/06/2025 - 20:19 GMT+2

A convoy of buses and backstage cars departed from Tunisia's superior connected Monday headed to Gaza arsenic portion of efforts to spotlight Israel's blockade connected humanitarian assistance to nan territory, arsenic Israeli authorities stopped a high-profile flotilla from landing there.

The overland effort, organised independently but moved up to coincide pinch nan flotilla, is made up of activists, lawyers and aesculapian professionals from North Africa.

It plans to traverse Tunisia, Libya and Egypt earlier reaching Rafah, nan separator crossing pinch Egypt that has remained mostly closed since Israel’s subject took power of nan Gaza broadside successful May 2024.

The Tunisian civilian nine groups down nan convoy said their purpose is to request "the contiguous lifting of nan cruel siege connected nan strip."

They asserted that Arab governments haven't pushed capable to extremity nan 20-month warfare betwixt Israel and Hamas.

After an almost three-month blockade of Gaza aimed astatine pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing successful immoderate basal assistance past month.

Experts person warned of famine successful nan territory of complete 2 cardinal group unless nan blockade is lifted and Israel ends its subject offensive.

The convoy group disconnected arsenic nan Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an assistance vessel that group sail from Sicily earlier this month, was seized by Israeli forces successful what activists said were world waters.

Those aboard, including Swedish ambiance activistic Greta Thunberg, were detained and will beryllium deported home.

The overland convoy drew wide attraction successful Tunisia and Algeria, wherever it began connected Sunday, pinch immoderate group waving Palestinian flags and chanting successful support of nan group of Gaza.

"This convoy speaks straight to our group successful Gaza and says, ‘You are not alone. We stock your symptom and suffering," Yahia Sarri, 1 of nan convoy's Algerian organisers, wrote connected societal media.

The North African activists do not expect their convoy to beryllium allowed into Gaza.

Regardless, it provides "a connection of situation and will," said Saher al-Masri, a Tunis-based Palestinian activist.

Israel and Egypt person imposed varying degrees of blockade connected Gaza since Hamas seized powerfulness from rival Palestinian forces successful 2007.

Israel says nan blockade is needed to forestall Hamas from importing arms, while critics opportunity it amounts to corporate reward of Gaza's population.

The convoy plans to stitchery supporters successful towns southbound of Tunis earlier crossing into Libya, wherever clashes betwixt rival militias person turned deadlier successful caller months.

Organisers said they planned nan onshore crossings pinch applicable authorities starring up to nan convoy's departure.