Participants in the Sumud Convoy seeking to break Israel's blockade on Gaza vowed not to return to Tunisia until authorities in eastern Libya, controlled by Khalifa Haftar's forces, release detained members of their group, two spokespersons of the Tunisian-led convoy said on Monday.
The Sumud Convoy, a North African civilian-led initiative comprising an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 participants, departed Tunisia on June 9 intending to traverse Libya and Egypt to deliver humanitarian aid and protest Israel's blockade of Gaza. The convoy, part of a broader “Global March to Gaza,” was subsequently halted in eastern Libya, with the associated march also blocked by Egyptian authorities, preventing them from reaching the Rafah border.
The convoy’s decision to remain in Libya follows their withdrawal from a campsite near the Libyan city of Sirte on Sunday, after being prevented from moving on to the border with Egypt for three days.
Facing food shortages, deteriorating living conditions, and violent attacks—including beatings—by eastern Libyan forces, the convoy retreated westward to Misrata.
“We’ve exhausted all discussions and given up on promises from the Interior Ministry in eastern Libya to release our detained colleagues,” convoy spokesperson Jawaher Channa said in a Facebook livestream.
Calling on Tunisian officials and international organizations to pressure eastern Libya, she said, “The time to act is now.”
“We, as organizers of the convoy, are not leaving any Tunisian behind. We’re not going home until they come home,” Chenna added, without confirming how many were detained.
Convoy spokesperson Wael Naouar also threatened escalation if detainees are not released soon. He cited the case of Youssef, a fellow organizer responsible for passport coordination, as an example of those detained.
“We’re not moving until Youssef and the others are free. We arrived together and we’re leaving together,” Naouar said.
The Coordination for Joint Action for Palestine, the group overseeing the convoy, urged supporters to avoid attempting to join via Libya without prior coordination, citing security and organizational concerns. “We assure you that while we appreciate your zeal and efforts to assist the Sumud Convoy, what is most needed is prior coordination and strict adherence to organizational instructions,” they said in their statement on Facebook.
Since March, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza following a temporary ceasefire and launched renewed assaults. Egypt closed the Rafah crossing in May 2024 after Israeli occupation forces took control of the Palestinian side and hoisted the Israeli flag. Egypt has refused coordination with Israel and demanded military withdrawal.
Libya’s eastern Interior Ministry defended its decision to block the convoy’s passage earlier this week. “The government and the General Command prepared escort patrols and reception points in Sirte and Ajdabiya, but were surprised that some participants didn’t have any identification papers,” they said. “We observed an unjustified hostile tone from the convoy organizers from the very first moment they arrived on the outskirts of Sirte, with some of them repeating phrases like ‘enemies of God and tyrants.’”
The ministry added that Egypt and Libya alike enforce strict border rules. “Libyans can’t enter Egypt without following the procedures. Algerians and Tunisians are no exception,” it said.
On June 11, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asked Egypt to stop pro-Palestinian activists from reaching Gaza’s borders, saying their entry would endanger Israeli soldiers and would not be tolerated.
