Libya denies stopping Soumoud convoy without cause - Foreign Affairs
The Libyan Ministry of Interior denied on Friday the claim made by the Soumoud convoy that the ministry had stopped the convoy in Sirte without cause.
It clarified that the convoy had been requested to provide visas and official approvals from Egypt, none of which have been provided yet.
Speaking to "Almarsad," the ministry said that though the Libyan government and the general command had initially prepared escort patrols and reception points in the cities of Sirte and Ajdabiya, they were surprised that some participants in the convoy lacked any identification documents.
According to the Libyan interior ministry, some individuals' passports had expired, while others had passports close to expiration, rendering them ineligible for travel through any country.
"Some participants had no passports at all," the ministry said, expressing confusion over how they were allowed to enter through the city of Ra's Ajdir in violation of Libyan laws requiring valid passports.
The ministry also noted an unjustified hostile tone from the convoy organisers upon their arrival on the outskirts of Sirte, with some reportedly using inflammatory language such as "enemies of God and tyrants."
It emphasised that it has clear instructions to allow passage to anyone with a valid passport and visa, in accordance with Libyan laws and international agreements governing the movement of individuals between countries.
In conclusion, the ministry affirmed that Libya does not allow its citizens to travel to Egypt without proper procedures, and that Egypt applies the same rules.
Algerian and Tunisian nationals, it stressed, are not exempt from the laws regulating cross-border movement.
On Thursday, the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for respecting Egypt's border regulations, referencing an earlier statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlining the rules for visiting border areas adjacent to Gaza.
The Libyan Foreign Ministry said, "We emphasise the importance of adhering to these controls and fully coordinating with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of participants and the success of the convoy's objectives."
On Wednesday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on international delegations wishing to visit the border area near Gaza to express support for Palestinian rights to secure prior approval, citing safety concerns and sensitive security conditions.
On Monday, the Soumoud (Steadfastness) land convoy left Tunisia bound for Gaza, reportedly planning to travel through Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.
The nine-bus convoy, which seeks to break Israel's blockade on Gaza, carries humanitarian aid and around 2,000 activists from Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
It comes days after the Israeli navy seized the Freedom Flotilla ship Madleen, which was also attempting to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip by sea.
The Madleen aid boat, which set sail for Gaza from Italy on 1 June, was boarded by activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan.
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