Latest news with #SoumoudConvoy
Asharq Al-Awsat
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Gaza-Bound Activist Convoy Reaches Libyan Capital
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists in a Gaza-bound convoy reached the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Wednesday as they drive eastward in a bid to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory. The Soumoud convoy -- meaning steadfastness in Arabic -- set off from Tunis in buses and cars on Monday, hoping to pass through divided Libya and Egypt, which organizers say has yet to provide passage permits, to reach Gaza. It was launched the day Israel intercepted an aid ship also attempting to breach its blockade on Gaza, which was carrying 12 people, including campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan. The land convoy was welcomed by hundreds in Tripoli and escorted through the capital by police patrols. Head of the Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah hailed the convoy as a "fraternal humanitarian initiative" that Libyans "embraced in warmth and solidarity". "This is another example of Libya's commitment and generosity in support of the people of Gaza under siege and attack," the premier said in a statement. After 20 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. The United Nations has said the Palestinian territory was "the hungriest place on Earth". "This visit brings us joy," said 45-year-old architect Alaa Abdel Razzaq among the crowd in downtown Tripoli welcoming the convoy. Souhour al-Qatif said the gathering in the capital showed that "the tears of the Libyan people are united with the convoy". "It's a great feeling," she added. "I feel like I'm not in Libya, but in Gaza, united with my Palestinian brothers." Organizers have said a dozen buses and around 100 other vehicles were part of the convoy, adding that they expected the number of participants to grow along the way. Algerian, Mauritanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the Soumoud group, which is now set to cross eastern Libya, a region controlled by a different administration than Tripoli. This has cast doubt on whether the activists would reach the border crossing with Egypt, which has yet to grant clearance for the activists to cross. Convoy spokesman Ghassen Henchiri told Tunisian media on Wednesday discussions were ongoing with Egyptian authorities regarding a permit to cross, "but as of now, we haven't received an official response."
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Gaza-bound activist convoy enters Libya from Tunisia
BEN GUERDANE, Tunisia: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists taking part in a convoy crossed the Tunisian border on Tuesday into Libya, aiming to keep heading eastwards until they break Israel's blockade on the Palestinian territory, organizers said. This comes after Israel intercepted an aid ship attempting to breach its blockade on Gaza, which was carrying 12 people, including campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan. The 'Soumoud' convoy, meaning 'steadfastness' in Arabic, set off from Tunis on Monday morning, spokesman Ghassen Henchiri told Tunisian radio station Mosaique FM. He said it includes 14 buses and around 100 other vehicles, carrying hundreds of people. Convoy members were heard chanting 'Resistance, resistance' and 'To Gaza we go by the millions' in a video posted on the organizing group's official Facebook page. Henchiri also told Jawhara FM radio channel the convoy plans to remain in Libya for 'three or four days at most' before crossing into Egypt and continuing on to Rafah. Organizers have said Egyptian authorities have not yet provided passage to enter the country, but Henchiri said the convoy received 'reassuring' information. Organizers said the 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.' Algerian, Mauritanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Libyan coast. After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. The Madleen aid boat, which set sail for Gaza from Italy on June 1, was halted by Israeli forces on Monday and towed to the port of Ashdod. The 12 people on board were then transferred to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry said, adding that Thunberg had been deported. Five French activists were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Gaza-bound activist convoy enters Libya from Tunisia
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists taking part in a convoy crossed the Tunisian border on Tuesday into Libya, aiming to keep heading eastwards until they break Israel's blockade on the Palestinian territory, organizers said. This comes after Israel intercepted an aid ship attempting to breach its blockade on Gaza, which was carrying 12 people, including campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan. The 'Soumoud' convoy, meaning 'steadfastness' in Arabic, set off from Tunis on Monday morning, spokesman Ghassen Henchiri told Tunisian radio station Mosaique FM. He said it includes 14 buses and around 100 other vehicles, carrying hundreds of people. Convoy members were heard chanting 'Resistance, resistance' and 'To Gaza we go by the millions' in a video posted on the organizing group's official Facebook page. Henchiri also told Jawhara FM radio channel the convoy plans to remain in Libya for 'three or four days at most' before crossing into Egypt and continuing on to Rafah. Organizers have said Egyptian authorities have not yet provided passage to enter the country, but Henchiri said the convoy received 'reassuring' information. Organizers said the 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.' Algerian, Mauritanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Libyan coast. After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. The Madleen aid boat, which set sail for Gaza from Italy on June 1, was halted by Israeli forces on Monday and towed to the port of Ashdod. The 12 people on board were then transferred to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry said, adding that Thunberg had been deported. Five French activists were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Tunisia Activists Launch Gaza-bound Convoy in 'Symbolic Act'
Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, launched on Monday a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to "break the siege" on the Palestinian territory, activists said. Organizers 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 organizing 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. Algerian, Mauritanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Tunisian and Libyan coasts, before continuing on to Rafah through Egypt. After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. On June 1, the Madleen aid boat, boarded by activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, set sail for Gaza from Italy. But on Monday morning Israel intercepted it, preventing it from reaching the Palestinian territory. The UN has warned that the Palestinian territory's entire population is at risk of famine.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Tunisia activists launch Gaza-bound convoy in ‘symbolic act'
Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, launched on Monday a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to 'break the siege' on the Palestinian territory, activists said. Organizers 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 organizing 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. Algerian, Mauretanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Tunisian and Libyan coasts, before continuing on to Rafah through Egypt. After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies. On June 1, the Madleen aid boat, boarded by activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, set sail for Gaza from Italy. But on Monday morning Israel intercepted it, preventing it from reaching the Palestinian territory. The UN has warned that the Palestinian territory's entire population is at risk of famine.
