A coalition of human rights groups and solidarity movements from over 32 countries, named “Global March to Gaza”, has departed for Gaza to break the all-out Israeli blockade and put an end to the regime’s genocidal war.
Thousands of activists are participating in the march, planning to reach the Gaza border via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to express their support for the Palestinians in the war-battered territory.
The participating convoys are scheduled to gather in the Egyptian capital Cairo on June 12, before setting off for the city of el-Arish in northeastern Egypt.
They will then continue on foot to the Rafah border crossing, where protest tents are planned to be set up, according to event organizers.
In Tunisia, hundreds of activists on Monday joined the land convoy heading towards Gaza to break Israel’s siege on the Palestinian territory.
It came as Israeli forces attacked Madleen Gaza-bound aid ship and abducted the crew when the vessel was approaching the blockaded Palestinian territory on Monday morning.
The main coalition organizing the “Global March to Gaza” march stated that it has representatives in most countries in Europe, North and South America, in addition to Arab and Asian states, reflecting the growing international momentum in support of the Palestinian cause.
The Algerian “Resilience Convoy” led the participating convoys, setting off from the Algerian capital, Algiers, towards Tunis on Sunday, to join the Tunisian convoy, and from there to Libya, then Egypt, before arriving at the Rafah crossing.
Yahya Sari, head of the Algerian Initiative to Support Palestine and Aid Gaza, said in a statement that the convoy “is of a humanitarian nature, raising its voice loudly, along with the freedom-loving people of the world, to demand the removal of the brutal siege on our brethren and sisters in Gaza.”
Sari, who is also a prominent member of the Association of Algerian Muslim Scholars, added that the move “expresses Algeria’s position in support of Palestine, and calls on international agencies to lift the siege and protect civilians from the brutal [Israeli] aggression.”
According to the organizers, the march seeks to end Israel’s systematic killing of Palestinians and the use of starvation as a weapon, and push for the immediate entry of food, water, medicine, and fuel into Gaza, especially through the Rafah crossing.
It also aims to break the Gaza siege, demand a permanent humanitarian corridor and the unconditional lifting of the blockade, expose the Israeli military’s crimes, and urge legal action against individuals and states involved in violations of international law.
At least 54,927 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 126,615 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the health ministry of Gaza.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.
