Thousands join Maghreb Resilience Convoy to Gaza, demanding end to Israeli's genocide
The convoy also aimed to deliver humanitarian aid and demand an end to what organisers describe as a “genocide committed by the Israeli enemy.”
SHAH ALAM - Thousands of North African volunteers launched the Maghreb Resilience Convoy from Tunisia this week, embarking on a land journey to Gaza in an effort to break Israel's prolonged siege.
The convoy also aimed to deliver humanitarian aid and demand an end to what organisers describe as a “genocide committed by the Israeli enemy.”
Organised by the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine in Tunisia, the convoy set off simultaneously from the cities of Tunis, Sousse, Sfax and Gabes.
The route would take them south to Ben Guerdane, across the Tunisian-Libyan border at Ras Jedir, through Libya and into Egypt, with the final goal of reaching Rafah and delivering aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
"The convoy will express solidarity with the Palestinian people under siege and deliver humanitarian aid to them.
“Participants in the convoy will head to the Ras Jedir crossing on the Tunisian-Libyan border and travel along the Libyan coastal road to Cairo, then to the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian-Palestinian border, to deliver messages of solidarity and aid to the Palestinians in Gaza,” the coordination group said in a statement.
The convoy comprised more than 1,000 activists and 7,000 total registrants from across the Maghreb region, including Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania. Among the participants were trade unionists, political figures, human rights defenders, lawyers, doctors, journalists and youth activists.
Wael Nouar, spokesperson for the convoy, confirmed the scale of the mobilisation.
"The convoy has registered the participation of more than 7,000 people of various Maghreb nationalities as of May 30. The convoy will include delegations from Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria and thousands from Tunisia and Libya. We will proceed directly to Cairo, then to Arish in Egypt and Rafah,” he said.
As the convoy left Tunisia’s capital at 8.30am local time on June 10, hundreds of citizens lined the streets, waving Palestinian and Tunisian flags in a powerful visual of public support. Many had gathered as early as 4am on Avenue Mohammed V in Tunis to register and assist with logistical arrangements.
Jawaher Channa, a member of the organising committee, said preparations were complete.
“Together with our Algerian brothers and sisters, over 1,000 participants have been distributed across 12 buses and 100 vehicles. More will join along the way before it reaches Gaza,” she said.
Medical coordinator Mohamed Amine Bennour emphasised that the convoy was part of a larger, global movement.
“This convoy is part of a global initiative involving more than 30 countries from Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. We are moving in coordination with various organizations aiming to reach Gaza by land, sea and air.
“After crossing Tunisia, we plan to reach the Gaza Strip via Libya and Egypt. We are coordinating with initiatives such as the March on Gaza, the Global March on Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla, which consists of many ships,” he said.
Tunisian civil society has shown overwhelming support for the land convoy. Organisations backing the initiative include the Tunisian General Labour Union, the Tunisian Journalists’ Syndicate, the National Bar Association, the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, the Tunisian Medical Association and the Organisation of Young Doctors.
The convoy is expected to arrive in Cairo by today and in Rafah by Sunday.
Meanwhile, a separate initiative is also underway; over 1,000 activists from 32 countries are planning a demonstration at the Rafah border crossing on June 15. The activists will first gather in Cairo on June 12, then travel to the border town of Arish before marching 50 kilometers to Rafah over three days.
The urgency of these movements is underlined by Gaza’s worsening humanitarian catastrophe. Since Oct 7, 2023, Israeli air and ground operations, backed by the United States (US) and Europe, have devastated Gaza, killing 54,927 people, most of whom are children and women and injuring 126,615 others, according to figures released by the convoy's organisers.
Thousands more remain trapped beneath rubble or unreachable due to the siege. Aid agencies have warned that Gaza’s 2.4 million residents face imminent famine due to Israel’s continued closure of border crossings since early March.
The International Criminal Court last November issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
As convoys, flotillas and marches grow in number, the Maghreb Resilience Convoy stands as a resounding symbol of cross-border unity, civil resistance and an urgent plea to stop the suffering in Gaza.
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