A large grassroots land convoy has begun a journey spanning thousands of kilometers from Tunisia’s capital towards Gaza. Launched on Monday, the initiative aims to deliver humanitarian aid and raise international awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, which has been under an Israeli blockade for 18 years. Organizers hope the convoy will help challenge the restrictions on entry into Gaza.
The “Soumoud” convoy, meaning resilience and steadfastness in Arabic, involves approximately 100 vehicles carrying thousands of volunteers from several North African countries, including Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt. Participants represent a diverse group, including trade unionists, political figures, human rights activists, athletes, lawyers, doctors, journalists, and youth organization members.
The route planned for the convoy is ambitious. It intends to travel from Tunisia to the Ras Jedir crossing on the border with Libya, then proceed along the Libyan coastal road to Cairo, Egypt. The final leg aims to reach the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian-Palestinian border, which is the primary point of entry for humanitarian aid into southern Gaza.
Organizers stated the convoy seeks to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and deliver crucial aid. The United Nations has highlighted the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as the “hungriest place on Earth.” Reports indicate nearly half a million people face catastrophic hunger, acute malnutrition, and starvation.
Sheikh Yahya Sari of the Algerian Association of Muslim Scholars emphasized the convoy’s message on social media, stating, “This is a message to the people of Gaza: You are not alone.” He added that the initiative represents public pressure against the blockade in response to what he described as international failure to stop the massacres.
However, the convoy’s ability to reach Gaza remains uncertain. Reports indicate that Egyptian officials have not yet authorized the convoy’s entry into the North Sinai region, which controls access to the Rafah crossing.
This land initiative follows recent attempts to break the Gaza blockade by sea. Earlier on the same Monday, Israeli forces intercepted a charity vessel attempting to deliver symbolic aid to Gaza and detained its crew.
Protestors hold banners at a demonstrationThe British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aimed to deliver aid including rice and baby formula. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had previously stated the military would use “any means necessary” to prevent the vessel from breaching the naval blockade. The ship was intercepted hours later.
Previous attempts to break the land and sea blockade on Gaza have faced resistance from Israeli forces. A notable incident occurred in 2010 when Israeli forces boarded the Mavi Marmara flotilla mission, resulting in the deaths of ten activists. More recently, in the month prior to the current land convoy, another vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was reportedly struck by drones near Maltese waters and could not continue its journey to Gaza.
Since October 2023, the conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties. According to Palestinian health and government officials, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces. This figure includes more than 28,000 women and girls, at least 1,400 health sector professionals, 280 UN aid workers (the highest staff death toll in UN history), and at least 227 journalists.
The “Soumoud” convoy continues its journey, carrying aid and a message of solidarity, while facing the logistical and political challenges of accessing the besieged Gaza Strip. The success of its mission hinges on obtaining necessary permissions to cross borders into Egypt and ultimately reach the Rafah crossing.
Explore more stories about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and past efforts to break the blockade by reading our related articles on the [Gaza conflict] and [humanitarian aid efforts].
