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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-north-african-solidarity-convoy-reports-mistreatment-arrests-eastern-libya">middleeasteye.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">North African convoy for Gaza reports mistreatment in eastern Libya by Haftar forces</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">MEE staff</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">June 16, 2025</div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><div><p>A North African aid convoy that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1356659978744718" target="_blank">departed</a> from <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/tunisia" target="_blank">Tunisia</a> to break the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a> siege of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Gaza</a> has reported that its activists were mistreated and arrested in eastern <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/libya" target="_blank">Libya</a> during the weekend.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/north-africa-convoy-heads-gaza-break-israel-siege" target="_blank">"Sumud" Convoy</a>,
which means "steadfastness" in Arabic, departed from Tunis on 9 June,
consisting of about 10 buses, a hundred cars, and thousands of
volunteers from <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/morocco" target="_blank">Morocco</a>, Tunisia, <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/algeria" target="_blank">Algeria</a> and <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/mauritania" target="_blank">Mauritania</a>, among others.</p>
<p>Participants include trade union and political figures, as well as
human rights activists, athletes, lawyers, doctors, journalists and
members of youth organisations. It aims to raise international awareness
about the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel\u2019s <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/israel-war-gaza" target="_blank">war</a> on the Palestinian enclave and deliver aid.</p>
<h3>Stopped in eastern Libya</h3>
<p>The convoy was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Tripoli on
Wednesday when, according to local media, residents offered food,
accommodation and fuel.</p><p>But organisers said on Sunday that while en route to <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/egypt" target="_blank">Egypt</a>, the caravan was blocked in Sirte by authorities from eastern Libya.</p>
<p>Since 2014, Libya has been <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/libya-crisis" target="_blank">divided</a>
into two rival administrations in the east and west of the country. The
Government of National Unity, backed by the UN, is based in Tripoli and
led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh; its rival, the House of
Representatives, is based in Tobruk and dominated by General
Khalifa Haftar.</p>
<p>The caravan <a href="https://libyaobserver.ly/news/after-haftars-forces-tighten-restrictions-sirte-sumood-convoy-returns-misrata" target="_blank">retreated</a> to near Misrata in western Libya after it encountered Haftar officials in Sirte, which is under his control.</p>
<div>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/north-africa-convoy-heads-gaza-break-israel-siege" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/tunisia-convoy-gaza-9-jun-2025-afp.jpg.webp?itok=qW48tQWm" width="394" height="246" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;">
</a></p><p>North African 'resilience convoy' heads to Gaza, aiming to break Israel's siege</p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/north-africa-convoy-heads-gaza-break-israel-siege" target="_blank">Read More »</a>
</p></div>
<p>In a statement on Saturday, the Joint Action Coordination Committee for Palestine, the organiser of the convoy, <a href="https://www.businessnews.com.tn/affames-isoles-arretes--la-caravane-al-soumoud-prise-au-piege-en-libye,520,148941,3" target="_blank">said</a> they had been facing a "military blockade" and "a methodical siege\u201d at the entrance to Sirte since Friday.</p>
<p>The statement accused Haftar's authorities of not only blocking the
convoy's advance but also isolating it by cutting off communication and
the internet. Haftar's forces are also accused of preventing the
delivery of food, water and medical supplies to the approximately 1,500
participants.</p>
<p>A support caravan, organised by Libyan citizens in solidarity, was forcibly stopped from entering Sirte.</p>
<p>The organisers also denounced the arrest of participants, including
at least three bloggers documenting the caravan's journey since its
departure.<b> </b>The trhee arrested
participants have been identified as Tunisian Ala Ben Amara and
Algerians Bilal Ourtani and Zidane Nezar. They have been accused of
posting "offensive videos" and reportedly denied contact with lawyers or
family.</p>
<p>Wael Nawar, the spokesperson for the caravan, <a href="https://www.businessnews.com.tn/wael-nawar-affirme-avoir-ete-enleve-et-agresse-par-les-autorites-de-lest-libyen,520,148944,3" target="_blank">said</a> on Facebook on Saturday that he had been kidnapped, violently assaulted and robbed of his money by Haftar-allied authorities.</p>
<p>In another statement on Sunday, the organisers demanded the immediate
release of 13 participants still detained by the eastern Libyan
authorities. According to the statement, one officer even threatened
participants at gunpoint during one of the arrests.</p>
<h3>Egypt and UAE, allies of Haftar</h3>
<p>Some Libyan news websites have <a href="https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250614-la-caravane-et-la-marche-en-solidarit%C3%A9-avec-gaza-stopp%C3%A9es-en-libye-et-en-%C3%A9gypte" target="_blank">suggested</a> that the convoy was stopped at the entrance to Sirte after pressure from Egypt.</p>
<p>Cairo said on Wednesday that any form of pro-Palestinian action by
"foreign delegations" on its territory required "prior authorisation".
That same day, Israel urged Egyptian authorities to ban any "act of
provocation\u201d by pro-Palestinian activists on their territory and any
\u201cattempted entry into Gaza\u201d.</p>
<p>Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has previously been a key
backer of Haftar, although they are on opposite sides of the war in <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/sudan" target="_blank">Sudan</a>, which is raging on both countries\u2019 southern borders.</p>
<div>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-detains-and-deports-pro-palestine-activists-hundreds-arrive-cairo-gaza-march" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/images-story/Tunisian%20youths%20wave%20Palestinian%20flags%20as%20they%20welcome%20the%20Sumoud%20convoy%2C%20afp%209june.jpg.webp?itok=IomS4eax" width="394" height="246" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;">
</a></p><p>Egypt detains nearly 200 foreigners who flew in to join Gaza march</p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-detains-and-deports-pro-palestine-activists-hundreds-arrive-cairo-gaza-march" target="_blank">Read More »</a>
</p></div>
<p>But the two men are nevertheless allied to the UAE, which has backed them financially before and is a key Arab ally of Israel.</p>
<p>The Sumud convoy is part of the larger <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/what-activists-hope-to-achieve-global-march-for-gaza" target="_blank">Global March to Gaza</a> movement, which includes around 4,000 activists from around 80 countries.</p>
<p>Both movements were expected to coordinate in Egypt before marching
to the Rafah crossing. The Global March was blocked on Friday by
Egyptian authorities as it tried to reach Ismailia, 45km east of Cairo.</p>
<p>AFP reported that on Friday, during police operations at various checkpoints, dozens of activists were <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-detains-and-deports-pro-palestine-activists-hundreds-arrive-cairo-gaza-march" target="_blank">intercepted</a>, sometimes assaulted, and their passports confiscated, before being forcibly put on buses.</p>
<p>Several dozen activists were later freed in Cairo, while others remain in custody, according to organisers.</p>
<p>French-Palestinian participant Sami, who came with his father and a friend from Paris, <a href="https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250614-la-caravane-et-la-marche-en-solidarit%C3%A9-avec-gaza-stopp%C3%A9es-en-libye-et-en-%C3%A9gypte" target="_blank">expressed</a> his anger to RFI radio.</p>
<p>"It makes me feel ashamed for this Egyptian government to be stuck
here while a genocide is taking place. We're all here peacefully to
break this blockade and bring in humanitarian aid, and now we see how
we're being welcomed. It's a disgrace. It's disgusting complicity."</p>
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