Gaza marchers aiming to break Israel's blockade retreat to west Libya after being blocked
PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS ON a march aiming to break Israel's Gaza blockade have retreated to the Misrata region of western Libya after being blocked by the authorities in the country's east, organisers said Sunday.
The 'Soumoud' convoy – meaning steadfastness in Arabic – decided to fall back to near Misrata, about 200 kilometres east of Tripoli, after being stopped by the eastern authorities.
Misrata is administered by the UN-recognised Government of National Unity based in Tripoli, while the east is controlled by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
The convoy of more than 1,000 people from Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia had been under a 'military blockade' since Friday at the entrance to Sirte, a Haftar-controlled area.
Organisers said they were subjected to a 'systematic siege', with no access to food, water or medicine and communications severely disrupted.
They also denounced the arrest of several convoy members, including at least three bloggers who had been documenting its journey since its departure from Tunisia on 9 June.
Advertisement
In a statement cited by Tunisia's La Presse newspaper, the Joint Action Coordination Committee for Palestine – the group behind the convoy – demanded the immediate release of 13 participants still held by eastern Libyan authorities.
In an accompanying video, it reaffirmed its intention to continue the mission to Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, with the aim of 'breaking the blockade and ending the genocide of the Palestinian people resisting in Gaza'.
In Egypt, a separate initiative - the Global March to Gaza, intended to bring together participants from 80 countries – was halted on Friday by authorities en route to the city of Ismailia, east of Cairo.
Dozens of activists were intercepted, reportedly beaten, had passports confiscated, and were forcibly loaded onto buses by police at multiple checkpoints.
Irish TD Paul Murphy was detained by Egyptian authorities and had his passport ad phone confiscated alongside other activists.
He was subsequently released and told
The Journal
yesterday evening that he and the group he is marching with have been discussing their options and intend to proceed with the march to whatever extent is possible.
Includes reporting by Emma Hickey
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy freed again by Egyptian authorities
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has been freed after being detained again by Egyptian authorities while trying to retrieve his phone from a Cairo police station. His partner earlier urged Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to intervene in the case. The Dublin South West TD had been detained on Friday while attempting to march to the Rafah crossing into Gaza as part of a large demonstration to deliver aid into the blockaded enclave. He was one of a number of Irish people who were expected to take part in the march. READ MORE Mr Murphy said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported. All Irish people who were detained were then released but some did not have their phones returned. On Monday, Mr Murphy went to a police station in the Egyptian capital to retrieve his phone. People Before Profit said this was done on the advice of the Irish embassy. He then sent messages from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he could not leave. He then attempted to leave, but the party said he and others were prevented from doing so. 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo,' the party quoted Mr Murphy as saying. 'On the advice of the Irish embassy, I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to inquire about my phone that they took. 'They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. 'I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand that other march participants have also been detained.' People Before Profit said after 8pm Irish time that Mr Murphy had been released with his passport and is to 'fly out' on Tuesday morning. Mr Murphy's partner and Dublin councillor Jess Spear had earlier appealed for the Government to intervene. 'I appeal to Tánaiste Simon Harris to intervene urgently with the Egyptian authorities,' she said. 'The Tánaiste must ensure that Paul and all the Global March to Gaza participants are released, have their passports returned and are allowed to continue their humanitarian mission to try and get aid to the people of Gaza .' The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance in this case. The Global March to Gaza is a civilian movement that aims to march from Egypt to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and increase pressure so that vital supplies to the besieged region are unblocked. A blockade on Gaza was imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas earlier this year. This has deepened fears of famine, while a new Israeli-US aid system has been marred by violence. It comes as Israel's 20-month military campaign in Gaza continues, during which an estimated 55,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages on October 7th, 2023.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy released after second detention by Egyptian police
Last week, Mr Murphy and others from the activist group had their passports taken after being held as they attempted to walk to Rafah as part of the protest to highlight the blockade of aid into the region. While Mr Murphy was later released and had his passport returned last week, his mobile phone was held by authorities, according to a statement from the Dublin TD's party. However, Mr Murphy was detained again in Cairo earlier today when he went to a police station to retrieve his phone. 'This morning People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, on the advice of the Irish Embassy, went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone,' according to a statement from the party. 'He messaged from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he cannot leave. 'He just attempted to leave but has been prevented from doing so by the police. Other participants in the Global March to Gaza are also detained,' the party added. According to a message from Mr Murphy to the party, the Dublin South-West TD went to the Abdeen police station in Cairo at 12.30pm local time to enquire about his mobile. 'They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave,' Mr Murphy said in the message. The party confirmed that Mr Murphy has once again been released from custody. Mr Murphy's partner, Cllr Jess Spear, had appealed to Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, to intervene. 'The Tánaiste must ensure that Paul and all the Global March to Gaza participants are released, have their passports returned and are allowed to continue their humanitarian mission to try and get aid to the people of Gaza,' Ms Spear said. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance. "We can confirm that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance in this case. Consular assistance is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases," according to the statement.
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish TD Paul Murphy freed after being detained in Egypt for second time
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has been released by Egyptian authorities and will return home to Dublin on Tuesday morning. The Dublin TD was detained for a second time on Monday after travelling to Cairo last week to take part in the March to Gaza. People Before Profit confirmed on Monday evening that he had been released from custody by the Egyptian police. He will travel home to Dublin on Tuesday morning, the Irish Mirror understands. After arriving in the Egyptian capital on Thursday, Mr Murphy was detained on Friday as he moved toward the Rafah crossing. His passport and phone were both taken and he was put on a bus back to Cairo. People Before Profit confirmed on Monday afternoon that Deputy Murphy, on the advice of the Irish Embassy, went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone. He messaged from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he 'could not leave'. The party stated that he 'just attempted to leave but has been prevented from doing so by the police'. Other participants in the Global March to Gaza were also detained. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was providing consular assistance to Deputy Murphy. He said: "We can confirm that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance in this case. "Consular assistance is provided on a confidential basis and therefore the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases."
