A convoy of activists has set off from Tunisia to Egypt in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Around 1,700 activists set off from the capital, Tunis, in buses and cars, according to the state news agency TAP, including around 200 from Algeria. They plan to travel to Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza, hoping to draw attention to the humanitarian emergency in the sealed-off coastal territory and to protest against Israel’s attacks.
The convoy calls on “all free people worldwide” to stand up for Palestinian rights, said spokesman Wael Nauar.
Yahia Sarri, who is coordinating the action for Algeria, told DPA: “The time for solidarity on screens is over. We are now moving with peaceful convoys that carry the voices of people around the world.”
Activists from Morocco were unable to join as planned. Disputes over the shared border have existed with Algeria for decades. The convoy is scheduled to travel through several cities in Tunisia and from there into neighbouring Libya. It will continue along the Mediterranean coast to Egypt and finally to Rafah.
The border crossing is more than 3,000km from Tunis.
The convoy is setting off at the same time as international activists are planning to gather in Egypt this week. After a meeting in the capital Cairo, they plan to walk about 50km from the coastal town of Al-Arish to Rafah on Friday. The activists plan to demonstrate at the crossing for several days starting Sunday. (DPA)
