Thousands Join Maghreb Land Convoy from Tunisia to Gaza to Break Israeli Siege

According to a statement, the “Maghreb Convoy of Steadfastness to Break the Siege on Gaza” will depart Monday from the capital Tunis and the cities of Sousse (east), Sfax, and Gabes, heading to Ben Guerdane (south) en route to Gaza via Libya and Egypt. The aim is to show solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people and deliver humanitarian supplies.

Participants will head to the Ras Jedir border crossing between Tunisia and Libya, travel along the Libyan coastal road to Cairo, and then to the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to deliver solidarity messages and aid.

Over 7,000 North African Volunteers Join Convoy to Gaza via Egypt and Libya

According to the organizers, the convoy includes unionists, politicians, human rights activists, lawyers, doctors, journalists, and youth organization members.

The group also published departure schedules from Tunis and other cities, along with meeting points and planned routes. On May 31, Wael Nawar, spokesperson for the convoy, told Anadolu Agency that thousands of people from Tunisia and the Maghreb had joined the mission.

He confirmed delegations from Mauritania, Morocco, and Algeria will participate, along with thousands from Tunisia and Libya, proceeding through Cairo and then Arish to reach Rafah in southern Gaza. As of May 30, more than 7,000 people from various Maghreb countries had registered to join.

Tunisian Civil Society Backs Gaza Convoy as Flotilla Faces Israeli Blockade

Several Tunisian organizations have declared their support and participation, including the UGTT (Tunisia’s largest labor union), the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, the Tunisian Bar Association, the Tunisian Human Rights League, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, the Order of Tunisian Doctors, and the Tunisian Young Doctors’ Organization.

This initiative comes as the Freedom Flotilla ship Madeleine nears Gaza after departing from Italy on June 1. Its 12-person crew, composed of human rights activists, has expressed fear of being intercepted by Israel and prevented from completing their mission to deliver aid to Gaza, which has endured siege, famine, and war crimes for more than 20 months.

On Wednesday, Israeli media reported that Israel decided to block Madeleine from docking in Gaza, despite initial discussions about allowing it to proceed so long as it posed no security threat. The decision was later reversed “to avoid setting a precedent.”