Two New Zealanders, actor and activist Will Alexander and Ava Mulla, departed Christchurch Airport on Tuesday bound for Egypt, where they will join the Global March to Gaza.

The march, which will cover 50 kilometers over two days, is expected to culminate on June 15 at the Rafah border crossing—the only gateway between Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip. Activists from multiple countries will join the effort, demanding an immediate end to the genocide being carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza.

The New Zealand contingent, organized by Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), includes around 24 members, according to chair John Minto, who emphasized that the march is an urgent response to the silence and complicity of Western governments.

“Anyone who stands up for Palestinian rights is going to be in some danger,” Minto said. “But in the face of the horrors unfolding in Gaza, doing nothing is no longer an option.”

Alexander, who last year undertook a 19-day hunger strike to protest inaction on Gaza, criticized the New Zealand government for failing to respond meaningfully. “All we’ve heard from them is empty words. We want to see action now,” he said.

His partner, Ava Mulla, described her emotional exhaustion after nearly 20 months of continuous protest. “We are all desperate to do something more,” she said, adding that the risks they face are nothing compared to what the people of Gaza endure daily.

While Egyptian authorities have not yet formally approved the march, the activists remain committed to pressing forward. Their participation comes amid global outrage over Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza, which has, according to Gaza’s health ministry, killed more than 54,900 Palestinians—the vast majority of whom are women and children.

Israel claims to have killed 20,000 militants but has provided no credible evidence to support the figure. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) last November issued arrest warrants for top Israeli officials and a Hamas commander, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Mulla also voiced concern for fellow activists aboard the Madleen, a humanitarian vessel intercepted by Israeli forces as it attempted to deliver aid to Gaza. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those detained.

“It’s shocking that Western governments are not speaking out,” Mulla said. “This silence enables continued violence against innocent civilians.”

The war has devastated Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of its population and reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble. The Global March to Gaza is seen by participants as a non-violent resistance effort, echoing the global call for justice, accountability, and freedom for Palestine. (ILKHA)