The Global March to Gaza is a massive international effort involving thousands of activists aiming to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by Israel’s blockade. Led by the Sumud Convoy from Tunisia, marchers are currently in Libya, awaiting further permissions to travel toward the Rafah crossing. Despite facing various challenges, including restrictions from both Libya and Egypt, the activists remain determined to bring global attention to the situation.
The Global March to Gaza has attracted thousands of activists aiming to draw international attention to Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and its ongoing violence against Palestinians. Recently, a group of about 1,000 people, known as the Sumud Convoy, led by Tunisians, arrived in Libya after departing from Tunis. They are pausing their journey to regroup, but they still lack the necessary permissions to cross eastern Libya, which is a crucial step toward reaching Gaza.
The Sumud Convoy is spearheaded by the Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, associated with the larger Global March for Palestine initiative. Participants from numerous nations are expected to join as they travel towards the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. This movement is receiving backing from Tunisian organizations like the General Labour Union, as well as a variety of grassroots groups from numerous countries, including the Palestinian Youth Movement and Jewish Voice for Labour.
While resting in Libya, the convoy is planning its next leg to Cairo. A participant, Ghaya Ben Mbarek, an independent journalist, expressed her motivations, saying she feels both anger and courage about Gaza’s situation. She believes her role as a journalist is to stand against what she considers genocide and starvation inflicted on the Palestinian people.
Plans include meeting up with more activists in Cairo before heading on to El Arish and then marching towards Rafah. However, challenges abound concerning permissions to traverse eastern Libya, where two rival administrations complicate matters. An official shared that discussions with eastern authorities are still ongoing. Moreover, getting through to Rafah won’t be easy, as the Egyptian government has remained silent on letting the marchers through and its policies strictly control access to the border region.
Activists have tried various methods to raise awareness in the past as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has dramatically worsened. They’ve engaged in international protests and legal activism against officials who support Israel’s military actions. Several humanitarian missions by sea have also been met with aggressive Israeli responses, including the deadly interception of the Mavi Marmara in 2010.
The marchers, despite anticipating difficulties in actually entering Gaza, seek to highlight the dire situation. Their leader, Ben Mbarek, asserted, “The message people here want to send to the world is that even if you stop us by sea, or air, then we will come, by the thousands, by land. We will literally cross deserts … to stop people from dying from hunger.”
The humanitarian outlook in Gaza is grim. Following the onset of the latest conflict on October 7, 2023, Israel has significantly restricted food and medical supplies into the region, leading to conditions some legal experts say amount to genocide. With reports of over 54,000 dead and hundreds of thousands more expected to perish, the situation is becoming dire, inciting global outrage over the ongoing violence against civilians, including children, aid workers, and journalists. The events surrounding this march are part of a wider pattern of Palestinian advocacy in an effort to halt what they call a genocidal campaign against their people.
The Global March to Gaza is an endeavor sparked by the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis arising from Israel’s blockade and military action in the region. With participation from thousands and a coordinated effort among international activists, the march highlights the desperation and determination of those advocating for Palestinian rights. As these activists face numerous obstacles, their journey serves to remind the world of the dire situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
