with participants from 32 countries

GAZA, Palestinian Information Center, 9-June-2025

An international solidarity march with the Gaza Strip was launched on Monday, as part of a global initiative aimed at breaking the siege imposed on the Strip and demanding an end to the genocide being carried out by Israeli occupation forces since October 7, 2023.

Thousands of supporters from 32 countries are participating in the march. They plan to reach Gaza’s border through the Rafah land crossing with Egypt, in order to deliver humanitarian aid and express their support for the Palestinian people.

The convoys are scheduled to gather in Cairo next Thursday before heading to the city of Arish in northeastern Egypt. From there, they will continue on foot toward the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, where protest camps are planned, according to the event organizers.

The main organizing coalition, known as the “Global March to Gaza,” announced that it has representatives in most countries across Europe, North and South America, as well as in Arab and Asian nations — reflecting the growing international momentum in support of the Palestinian cause.

Leading the participating convoys is the Algerian “Caravan of Steadfastness,” which set off from the capital Algiers toward Tunisia on Sunday, to join the Tunisian convoy, then proceed to Libya, Egypt, and finally reach the Rafah crossing.

Yahia Sarri, head of the Algerian Initiative for Supporting Palestine and Aiding Gaza, said in a press statement: “On Sunday, the Caravan of Steadfastness departed for Tunisia, where it will join the Tunisian convoy, then cross Libya into Egypt, and from there to Gaza via Rafah.”

Sarri, a prominent member of the Association of Algerian Muslim Scholars, emphasized that the convoy is humanitarian in nature and raises its voice alongside the free people of the world to demand an end to the unjust siege on the people of Gaza. He added that this step “reflects Algeria’s stance in support of Palestine and its calls on global platforms to lift the siege and protect civilians from the brutal aggression.”

Sarri noted that the convoy is part of the international popular humanitarian movement that has been mobilizing by land, sea, and air in rejection of the criminal practices targeting the people of Gaza. He said: “We address our people in Gaza and tell them: you are not alone, we stand with you in your pain and suffering. This is the best we can do to amplify your voice to the world.”

He described the convoy as “a symbolic representation of the growing global popular will that is tightening the noose on the occupier everywhere.”

From Morocco, Abdelhafid El Sriti, coordinator of the “National Working Group for Palestine,” said, “The march will depart from Morocco to Egypt by air, and then travel by land from Cairo to the Rafah crossing, in an effort to pressure the occupation to open the crossings and end the genocide.”

He added, “Since October 7, Moroccans have been in the streets and public squares in support of the resistance and the Palestinian people — and we will continue to do so.” He continued, “We coordinated all steps with the organizing parties, and the participants will fly from Morocco to Cairo, then head to the Egyptian city of Arish, and from there to the Rafah crossing.”

El Sriti warned that the Palestinian people are being exterminated with bombings and American-made weapons, and suffering under a suffocating siege that has led to famine and disease, constituting an unprecedented crime. He called on the international community to act urgently to stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza and ensure aid is delivered.

The launch of the march comes one day after the Israeli army hijacked the ship Madleen, which was heading to Gaza to break the siege and express solidarity after more than 20 months of genocide. All international activists on board were detained.

The Madleen carried 12 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham, and a French-Arab parliamentarian.

Another ship, Al-Dameer, also affiliated with the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, was previously attacked by an Israeli drone on May 2 while attempting to sail to Gaza. The attack caused a hull breach and a fire at the front of the vessel.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel — with US support — has been committing acts of genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring international appeals and binding orders from the International Court of Justice to cease its actions.

The genocide has resulted in more than 181,000 Palestinians killed or wounded — the majority of whom are women and children — with over 11,000 missing. There are also hundreds of thousands of displaced people and widespread famine that has claimed many lives, including those of children, alongside vast destruction.

Israel has imposed a siege on Gaza for 18 years. Now, approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of about 2.4 million in the Strip are homeless after the genocide destroyed their homes.