The Global Sumud Flotilla has formally requested Egypt to authorize an international humanitarian land convoy to transit its territory and enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing amid deepening winter hardship and Israel’s recent move to revoke licenses for 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
In a letter submitted Monday to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the coalition of international activists and relief organizations emphasized its readiness to comply with all laws and security procedures to ensure the safe delivery of urgently needed food, medical supplies, and winter essentials to Palestinian civilians.
“Sea conditions limit our ability to move sooner by water, but the needs are immediate,” said GSF Steering Committee Member Marouan Ben Guettaia in a press statement received by Al Manassa. “This convoy represents a way to act now, to serve the Palestinian people sooner.”
The request follows Israel’s announcement last week that it would deregister 37 NGOs operating in Palestinian territories—a decision condemned by the UK, France, Canada, Japan, and several European governments. Any attempt to obstruct humanitarian relief work is “unacceptable,” the foreign ministers said in a joint statement.
According to the letter, the convoy is expected to enter Egypt via the Libya–Egypt border and travel across Egyptian territory under security escort toward Rafah. It will carry life-saving items such as food, blankets, and medical supplies, aiming to fill the void left by the departure of international NGOs and the ongoing closure of critical crossings.
Rafah, Gaza’s main lifeline to the outside world, has remained closed to sustained aid deliveries since May 2024, when Israeli forces seized control of the Palestinian side and raised the Israeli flag over the terminal. Egypt has since refused coordination with the Israeli military and has demanded a full withdrawal before reopening the crossing.
Despite last year’s ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Cairo has denied coordinating with Israeli authorities over Rafah’s status.
The GSF cited international law and recent rulings from the International Court of Justice, asserting that third states have a legal duty to enable humanitarian access.
“Under international humanitarian law, and consistent with the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, the facilitation of rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to civilians in need is a binding legal obligation of all relevant parties and states,” the group stated in its press release.
The request comes less than a year after Egyptian security forces forcibly blocked hundreds of international solidarity activists from reaching Rafah. In June 2025, Egyptian security forces blocked hundreds of international volunteers from reaching Rafah, detaining and forcibly deporting many of them. Separately, Libyan authorities prevented the North African leg of a Sumud convoy from entering Egypt, despite its clearance through Tunisia.
The flotilla has also faced repeated Israeli hostilities. In October 2025, Israeli naval forces seized Sumud vessels in international waters, detaining nearly 500 participants.
This overland convoy is a precursor to a larger maritime mission planned for spring 2026. Organizers say more than 3,000 participants from over 100 countries will join what they describe as the largest coordinated civilian flotilla for Gaza to date.
