1,500 rights activists set off for Gaza by road

Aid convoy carrying over 1500 human rights activists reached Lybia on Wednesday on way to Rafa to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza. AP Photo

Hundreds of rights activists have set off for the Gaza Strip by road to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave. They set off from Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, and reached Tripoli, the capital of Libya.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday (June 12) that the group includes at least 1,500 people. They are from Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. More people are expected to join from Libya.

The convoy, called "Unmoved," consists of more than a hundred cars and dozens of buses. The convoy has now reached the Libyan city of Zawiya. From there, they will try to go to Cairo, Egypt. From there, they will go to the Rafah crossing on the Gaza border.

Thousands of people greeted the convoy upon its arrival in Tripoli, Libya. In addition, the police there provided security for the vehicles in the convoy.

Algerian Jamila Sharitah, who was on board the flotilla, said Tuesday that Tunisian and Libyan authorities were assisting the people on board. Another on board, Zaid al-Hamami, said the convoy aimed to reopen the Rafah crossing and pressure the Israelis to allow aid into the Strip.

AP said it was unclear as of Wednesday night whether the people on board had managed to enter Egypt. Egypt's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the border area adjacent to Gaza includes the city of Arish and the Rafah border crossings. Any foreign delegations would have to obtain permission before going there.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the convoy would not be allowed to enter Gaza because it could put its troops at risk. Israel has called on Egypt to block the convoy's passage.

Last week, the Madalina ship, operated by the international non-profit organization Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), carried 12 rights activists, including environmentalist Greta Thunberg, from Italy to deliver aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza. But on Monday (June 9), the ship was seized by the Israeli navy from international waters. It was later taken to Israel. Four of them have been sent back to their countries. The rest are still in Israel. - AP