Soumoud Convoy
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (June 2025) |
| Part of the Gaza war protests | |
| Native name | قافلة الصمود |
|---|---|
| Date | June 9, 2025 |
| Location | Tunisia, Libya |
| Type | Humanitarian aid convoy |
| Cause | |
| Motive |
|
| Participants |
|
| Blockade of the Gaza Strip |
|---|
| Crossings |
| 2004–2009 |
| 2010–2022 |
| 2023–present |
| Groups involved |
The Soumoud Convoy (Arabic: قافلة الصمود, romanized: Qāfilat aṣ‑Ṣumūd), Steadfast Convoy,[1] or Maghreb Resilience Convoy,[2] among other names,[a] is a June 2025 humanitarian land convoy travelling from Tunisia, through Libya, to the Rafah Border Crossing between Palestine and Egypt. The convoy is a symbolic action of support that intends to raise global awareness of the humanitarian crisis going on in the Strip.[6] The goal is to reach Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, in order to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.[7][8]
The convoy set off on 9 June, with approximately 1,000–1,500 people taking part, mostly from Tunisia, and also from Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco.[9][10][11] As of 13 June, the protest has halted at the Libyan city of Sirte after crossing the Libya–Tunisia border.[12] The convoy is coordinated alongside the Global March to Gaza, intended to begin on 15 June.[13]
Background
On the 3 April, 2024, several Tunisian civil organizations announced that a humanitarian medical caravan would depart from Tunisia to the Gaza Strip by land after Eid al-Fitr, carrying dozens of doctors, nurses, and medical equipment.[14][15] However, the plan was not able to be implemented.[citation needed]
On the 8 June, 2025, the project announced the continuation of its plans and invited all previously registered participants in the project to participate in a training session focused on first aid, legal protocols relevant to the convoy, and the fundamentals of non-violent resistance.[16]
Convoy
June 9–11
On 9 June, after the Algerian participants arrived from Algiers,[17] the entire convoy set out from Tunis to start its journey towards Gaza. On 10 June, the convoy crossed into Libya through the Libyan-Tunisian border crossing.[18] The following day, the convoy reached Tripoli after having left the city of Zawiya,[19] with the intention to cross the border to Libya and Egypt into Sallum, in order to reach Rafah on the 15th,[20] alongside the Global March to Gaza intended to arrive on the same day.[13] The convoy consists of around a dozen buses and hundred other vehicles,[21] with the number of participants estimated to be more than 1,000 to 1,500 people.[10][11]
June 12
As of 12 June and according to organisers, participants failed to gain permits of passage from both Egypt and Libya,[13] France24 reported there is lack of clarity regarding crossing Eastern Libya, due to the territorial control by rival forces to the Libyan National Army leader Khalifa Haftar.[13]
June 13
On 13 June, it was reported that the convoy had halted at Sirte, having been stopped near the frontline by authorities of Eastern Libya. The government requested that activists "engage in proper coordination with the official Libyan authorities through legal and diplomatic channels".[12]
Organisers and participants
The convoy is organised by the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine and Tunisian civil society groups.[6][8] It is independent from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla intercepted earlier in the month and includes "activists, lawyers and medical professionals from North Africa", according to AP News. Organisers have stated their aim is for "the immediate lifting of the unjust siege on the strip".[8]
Notable participants of the convoy include Sheikh Yahya Sari, a member of the Algerian Association of Muslim Scholars,[22] and several Algerian parliamentarians who have also participated in the convoy.[23]
Groups endorsing the march
Groups endorsing the march include:[24]
- Tunisian General Labour Union
- Tunisian Journalists Syndicate
- National Bar Association of Tunisia
- Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights
- Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights
- Tunisian Medical Council
- Tunisian Organisation of Young Doctors
Responses
The Movement of Society for Peace, Algeria’s largest Islamic political party, issued a strong statement of support for the caravan, celebrating its role in the global surge of popular activism for Gaza and against Israeli aggression.[25]
The Amsterdam branch of the SJP organization reported that it will be joining the march and has opened a fundraiser to fund money to book tickets to fly to Cairo.[2]
Notes
References
- ^ Ari, Lior Ben (12 June 2025). "Following Greta, Algerian 'relief convoy', Global March to Gaza aim to break Gaza 'siege'". Ynetnews. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b Heller, Mathilda (10 June 2025). "7,000 activists begin 300-vehicle convoy from Tunisia to Rafah, aim to open corridor". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ "Libya welcomes 'Steadfastness Convoy' as a symbol of solidarity with Gaza". Middle East Monitor. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Eastern Libyan authorities stop Gaza-bound aid convoy at entrance to Sirte". Middle East Monitor. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Libya denies claims of official contact with Egypt over 'Convoy of Steadfastness'". Middle East Monitor. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Thousand-strong convoy leaves Tunisia to 'break siege' on Gaza". BBC. 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Around 1,000 Tunisians participate in Al-Soumoud Convoy to break siege on Gaza". MSN. 8 June 2025.
- ^ a b c El Arem, Mehdi; Metz, Sam (9 June 2025). "A convoy sets off for Gaza from North Africa to protest Israel's blockade". AP News.
- ^ "'Break the siege': Tunisians launch 'symbolic' Gaza-bound mass land convoy". France 24. 9 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Egypt Detains, Deports Dozens of Activists ahead of Global March to Gaza". Palestine Chronicle. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Convoy of 1500 arrives in Libya en route to Gaza to break Israel's blockade on aid". The National. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b Metz, Sam; McNeil, Sam (13 June 2025). "Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 14 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Egypt detains more than 200 activists ahead of Gaza aid march". France 24. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "Tunisie – Une caravane médicale se rendra par voie terrestre à Gaza". Tunisie Numerique. 30 November 2024.
- ^ "Une caravane humanitaire tunisienne en partance pour Gaza". Le Temps. 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Notice to participants in the Tunisian caravan "Soumoud" heading to Gaza". Tunisie Numerique.
- ^ "Algerian-led humanitarian convoy departs for Gaza to break 'Israeli' siege". Roya News. 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Gaza-bound activist convoy enters Libya from Tunisia". Arab News. 11 June 2025.
- ^ Murad, Yousef (11 June 2025). "Convoy arrives in Libya en route to Gaza to challenge Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid". The Washington Post.
- ^ "قافلة الصمود لكسر حصار غزة تصل مدينة الزاوية بليبيا". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2025.
- ^ "Gaza-bound activist convoy reaches Libyan capital". France 24. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ "North African 'resilience convoy' heads to Gaza, aiming to break Israel's siege". Middle East Eye. 9 June 2025.
- ^ "LIVE UPDATES: Tracking North African "Soumoud" convoy on its journey to Gaza". Roya News. 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Maghreb land convoy heads to Gaza in effort to break the siege". Middle East Monitor. 9 June 2025.
- ^ "Tunisian-Initiated "Caravan of Steadfastness" Crosses into Libya on Route to Gaza". watanserb. 10 June 2025.
