March to Gaza: Tunisia activists launch Gaza-bound convoy in 'symbolic act'

Tunisian activists launch land convoy to break Gaza blockade, facing obstacles from Egypt and Israel, aiming for symbolic act.

Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, launched on Monday (June 9, 2025) a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to "break the siege" on the Palestinian territory, activists said.

Organisers said 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 added.

"We are about a thousand people, and we will have more join us along the way," said Channa, spokeswoman of the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, the group organising the caravan.

"Egypt has not yet given us permission to cross its borders, but we will see what happens when we get there," she said.

Channa said the convoy was not set to face issues crossing Libya, "whose people have historically supported the Palestinian cause", despite recent deadly clashes in the country that remains divided between two governments.