In a bold move to break the ongoing blockade on Gaza, thousands of North African volunteers embarked on a mass land convoy toward the region on June 9. The convoy, named “Sumoud” (meaning “resilience” in Arabic), aims to challenge the Israeli blockade and push Egypt to open the Rafah crossing, allowing crucial humanitarian aid and medical evacuations to flow into Gaza.
The initiative is spearheaded by Tunisian civil society, with participants from Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, and Libya joining the cause. It comes in response to the interception of the Madleen, a Gaza-bound aid vessel crewed by 12 international activists and aid workers, which was seized by Israeli forces.
Organizers of Sumoud state that the convoy is a direct response to the blockade at sea, an attempt to exert pressure on Egypt to facilitate aid and allow the passage of those in need. The convoy includes doctors, journalists, union leaders, and youth activists, departing from several Tunisian cities, including Tunis, Sousse, and Sfax. As the convoy moves through Libya toward Egypt, it is expected to grow in numbers.
However, the convoy’s success remains uncertain, as Cairo has yet to grant passage permits, making entry into Gaza contingent on Egypt’s stance.
The movement has garnered widespread support from key Tunisian organizations, including the General Labour Union, the Journalists’ Syndicate, and the League for the Defence of Human Rights. Organizers report that more than 7,000 volunteers across the Maghreb have signed up to participate.
The seizure of the Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups. The vessel, which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, highlighted the dire conditions faced by Palestinians, with the UN declaring Gaza “the hungriest place on Earth.”
Since October, over 54,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, with the enclave now on the brink of famine. As Israel continues to block aid by land, sea, and air, the Sumoud convoy represents a rare regional effort to challenge the siege and test Egypt’s role in the humanitarian crisis.
