A large solidarity convoy dubbed the “Caravan of Steadfastness” entered Libya on Tuesday morning via the Ras Ajdir border crossing from Tunisia, continuing its journey toward the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah crossing.
The convoy, which comprises around 1,000 volunteers, made its way through the Libyan cities of Zuwara, Zaltan, Sabratha, and Zawiya before heading to Tripoli. It aims to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians enduring what organisers describe as a “genocidal war” since 7 October 2023.
Videos shared by the Zawiya Municipality on Facebook showed official and popular preparations for welcoming the convoy, while several Libyan social media pages posted images of citizens waving Libyan and Palestinian flags and distributing food to participants.
According to Tunisia’s Joint Action Coordination for Palestine, the convoy includes trade unionists, politicians, human rights advocates, lawyers, doctors, journalists, and youth activists. The group published the caravan’s schedule, including departure points from Tunis and other major Tunisian cities, as well as coordination points for crossing into Libya.
The convoy marks a high-profile show of Maghreb solidarity with the Palestinian cause, with participants hailing from Tunisia and across North Africa. On 31 May, caravan spokesperson Wael Nawar announced that thousands from Tunisia and other Maghreb countries had joined the effort.
The initiative is part of growing regional grassroots pressure calling for an end to the war on Gaza and increased humanitarian support. Organisers said the volunteers aim to accompany the aid all the way to Gaza, pending approval to pass through Rafah.
The convoy’s symbolic and material support underscores continued North African mobilisation in favour of the Palestinian people, particularly amid intensified violence and deepening humanitarian crises in the besieged enclave.
