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Egypt rebuffs Israeli pressure, reaffirms support for Gaza as aid Convoy advances
Published June 11th, 2025 - 05:36 GMT The Soumoud convoy, comprised of over 100 vehicles and thousands of volunteers from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt, began its journey on Monday.
ALBAWABA- In response to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's call for Egypt to block protesters and prevent a North African aid convoy from reaching Gaza, Egypt has firmly reiterated its commitment to Palestinian rights and its own sovereign guidelines for border access. Also Read Israeli assaults kill 80, wound hundreds in Gaza since morning
The Israeli minister reportedly instructed the army to prevent the entry of the large grassroots convoy, known as Soumoud, Arabic for "steadfastness", which departed from Tunis earlier this week intending to reach the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid and protest the Israeli blockade.
In a detailed statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry rejected external pressure and emphasized its consistent position against the ongoing Israeli siege and aggression in Gaza.
'Egypt welcomes international and regional positions that support Palestinian rights and reject the siege, starvation, and systematic Israeli violations,' the statement read. It reaffirmed Cairo's efforts to end the assault on Gaza and alleviate the suffering of over two million Palestinians.
⚡️🇪🇬BREAKING: Statement by Egypt's MFA:'Regulatory Guidelines for Visiting the Border Area Adjacent to the Gaza Strip
The Arab Republic of Egypt welcomes international and regional—official and popular—positions supporting Palestinian rights and rejecting the siege,… — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 11, 2025
However, Egypt underscored the need for foreign delegations, governmental or otherwise, wishing to visit border areas like Arish or the Rafah crossing to follow formal regulatory procedures. These include prior coordination through Egyptian embassies or foreign diplomatic missions in Cairo. Also Read Tunisian pro-Palestine convoy departs for Gaza on land
Egypt clarified, 'These guidelines exist to ensure the safety of all visitors given the sensitive and volatile conditions near the Gaza border.' The ministry stressed that any uncoordinated attempts to access these areas would not be recognized or allowed.
The Soumoud convoy, comprised of over 100 vehicles and thousands of volunteers from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt, began its journey on Monday.
The convoy aims to cross into Gaza via Egypt's Rafah crossing after traveling through Libya and into Cairo. Organizers say their mission is both humanitarian and symbolic, drawing international attention to Gaza's blockade while delivering life-saving supplies.
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