Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, have launched a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to “break the siege” on the Palestinian territory, activists say.
Organizers say the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid into Gaza, but rather aimed at carrying out a “symbolic act” by breaking the blockade on the territory described by the United Nations as “the hungriest place on Earth.”
The “Soumoud” convoy, meaning “steadfastness” in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to arrive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, “by the end of the week,” activist Jawaher Channa told AFP.
It is set to pass through Libya and Egypt, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits, she adds.
“We are about a thousand people, and we will have more join us along the way,” says Channa, spokeswoman of the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, the group organizing the caravan.
On June 1, the Madleen aid boat, carrying activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, set sail for Gaza from Italy. But this morning Israel intercepted it, preventing it from reaching the Palestinian territory.
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