North African Solidarity Convoy to Gaza Sparks Uproar in Egypt Amid Silence from Authorities

Watan-The “Maghreb Solidarity Convoy”, which departed from Tunisia and passed through Libya en route to the Rafah border, has triggered widespread controversy in Egypt. While many Egyptians have praised the initiative on social media, Egyptian authorities have maintained a conspicuous silence, with no clear statement regarding whether the convoy will be allowed to enter Gaza.

The convoy includes hundreds of volunteers from Tunisia and Algeria, traveling in more than 160 vehicles loaded with medical and humanitarian supplies. It has received significant praise across the Maghreb region as a symbol of Arab grassroots solidarity with Palestine and a political message urging international pressure to end the siege on Gaza.

However, the arrest of three Algerian lawyers at Cairo International Airport—who had intended to join the convoy—sparked outrage. Lawyer Fatiha Rouibi reported that Egyptian authorities detained her colleagues without legal justification, confiscated their phones and documents, and held them alongside 37 other convoy participants. She called on Algerian authorities to intervene urgently.

Uncertainty Grows as Egypt Detains Gaza Convoy Activists, Faces Pressure to Allow Passage

Rouibi added that no formal Egyptian explanation was given, and those detained—including all Algerians in the group—were likely to be deported. The detainees reportedly had no political agenda, only humanitarian motives.

Egyptian human rights activist Aida Seif El-Dawla denounced the detentions, and several arriving activists confirmed they were held for four hours without clarification and later told they might be deported. Others who had been allowed in were subsequently removed from hotels and taken to the airport for expulsion.

Egyptian authorities have yet to comment on the incident or issue a formal statement regarding the convoy’s fate, amid unofficial reports of security concerns over the size of the group and lack of coordination. Egyptian media figures aligned with the government, like Ahmed Moussa, warned of potential political manipulation behind the convoy. A senior security official reportedly claimed the initiative aims to politically embarrass Egypt.

Meanwhile, prominent Egyptian activists and intellectuals expressed strong support for the convoy. Rights lawyer Mahienour El-Massry called the mission “an important act of solidarity” and warned that blocking it would be “a national disgrace.” Activist Ramy Shaath argued that the convoy reflects growing global outrage against Israel’s siege and warned that suppressing the effort would reinforce international claims that Egypt is complicit in Gaza’s starvation and suffering.

Tunisian participant Islam Awadi said they received “positive signals” from Egyptian authorities about possible passage through Rafah. She emphasized the convoy’s humanitarian purpose and civil society role in breaking the siege.

Political science professor Essam Abdel Shafi outlined two potential scenarios: Egypt allows the convoy through, placing pressure on Israel; or Egypt blocks it, assuming direct responsibility for negative media and political fallout.