A large overland aid convoy, consisting of 12 buses and 100 private cars carrying over 1,000 activists from North African countries, crossed into Libya on Tuesday, heading toward the Gaza Strip.

The convoy, which departed from Tunis on Monday, seeks to highlight the ongoing Israeli siege crippling the Palestinian enclave, according to organizers.

Mohammed Ameen Binnour, the convoy’s medical coordinator, reported that the group passed through several Libyan cities and is now near Al-Zawiya, 51 km west of Tripoli. Libyan locals warmly welcomed the convoy, offering food, water, and other supplies, while security forces provided a formal salute.

The activists plan to cross into Egypt by Thursday, aiming to reach Rafah near the Gaza border to deliver aid. This effort follows Israel’s interception of a British-flagged aid ship on Monday, where 12 foreign activists were detained.

Israel’s closure of Gaza’s border crossings to humanitarian aid since early March has raised alarms, with aid agencies warning of famine risks for Gaza’s 2.4 million residents. The Israeli military’s ongoing offensive, launched in October 2023, has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, despite international calls for a ceasefire.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza. (ILKHA)