Gaza-bound aid convoy nears Egypt, defying pressure to halt mission

Driving along the Libyan coast, a convoy of more than 150 vehicles packed with activists from across the Maghreb is inching toward Egypt's Rafah border, determined to break the siege on Gaza even as uncertainty grows over whether Egyptian authorities will allow them through.

The 'Somoud' ('Resilience') convoy overland mission departed Tunisia last week and was now crossing Libya. After a rest day at a forest camp in Joddaim near Zawiya, the 1,500-strong group travelling in cars, vans, and buses resumed its journey toward Tripoli on Wednesday, with planned stops in Tajoura, Zliten, and Misrata.

"The welcoming people of Libya provided food and fuel for free. Women were even offered rooms to sleep comfortably," said Douae Medimagh, one of the convoy's volunteers.

Wael Naouar, a spokesperson for the group, said the convoy's first day in Libya was spent clearing logistical and administrative procedures. "We're continuing our journey to Misrata, where we’ll spend the night," he told The New Arab on Wednesday.

The convoy received an official welcome from Libya’s High Council of State, which hailed it as "a living symbol of Arab and Islamic solidarity with the Palestinian struggle", and called for an immediate end to the siege on Gaza.

Libya's Emergency and Ambulance Authority has committed to escorting the convoy across the country, from the Ras Jedir border with Tunisia to the Umm Saad crossing with Egypt.

But as Somoud approaches Egypt, it has come under fire from pro-government media voices in Cairo. Prominent Egyptian commentators have attacked the convoy as a "public relations trap" meant to embarrass the Cairo.

Ahmed Moussa, a pro-government TV host, posted on X : "Vigilance is required to confront this trap, which seeks to put Egypt in an extremely awkward position, whether it allows the caravan to enter or blocks it."

Activist Loay Al-Khatib also criticised the convoy, calling it "a burden on Egypt’s security services" and warning it could serve Israel’s displacement agenda while undermining the Palestinian cause it claims to support.

Despite the pushback, organisers insist they plan to move forward and are on schedule."On 12 June, the convoy will be in Cairo. By 15 June, we'll reach Rafah," Naouar confirmed.

A group of Mauritanian activists is expected to join in Egypt, while others from more than 30 countries plan to arrive in Cairo to take part in a demonstration near the Rafah crossing.

Meanwhile, Moroccan pro-Palestine groups have refused to participate until formal clearance is granted by Egypt.

The Global Campaign to Return to Palestine, a backer of the initiative, has urged Egyptian authorities to facilitate the convoy’s entry, describing it as a "humanitarian effort to break the siege".

"To my knowledge, there is no official Egyptian approval yet," said Ghassan Benkhlifa, a member of Tunisia’s Boycott movement, currently travelling with the convoy. "There are only speculations and wishful thinking."

The convoy is part of a growing grassroots response to Israel’s ongoing assault and blockade on Gaza. It comes just days after Israeli forces illegally intercepted the Freedom Flotilla ship Madleen, which was attempting to deliver aid by sea.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), some 470,000 people in Gaza are facing famine, with the entire population suffering from acute food insecurity. Local health authorities say Israel has killed over 51,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.

As the convoy edges closer to the Rafah crossing, its fate remains uncertain. But for Naouar, the mission continues.

"Wherever the people welcomed us, the authorities quickly followed to facilitate our entry," he said. "It was like that in Tunisia; it's the same now in Libya, and it will be the case in Egypt as well."