Egypt is expected to block Global March to Gaza, Israel Katz says
Katz clarified that if Egypt fails to stop the pro-Palestinian group, the IDF would take the necessary measures to prevent them from entering Gaza.
Egypt is expected to block the Global March to Gaza from reaching the Israel-Egypt-Gaza border, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Wednesday night.
Over 7,000 pro-Palestinian activists from Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya have begun a protest convoy on Monday, with the aim of reaching the Rafah crossing by land.
The Maghreb Resilience Convoy’s 300-vehicle caravan departed from Tunis on Monday morning, before crossing the Libyan border on Tuesday. It is expected to enter Egypt on Thursday and reach Rafah a few days later.
The “Soumoud convoy” aims to “bring food and humanitarian aid to Gaza and open a humanitarian corridor,” the organizers said.
According to participating groups, “doctors, students, lawyers, and everyday people” are in the convoy, part of the Global March to Gaza scheduled for June 15, during which 2,500 activists from over 50 countries plan to march from El-Arish in Egypt to Rafah in Gaza.
'Egypt must stop activists from reaching border'
Katz said that Cairo must stop the pro-Palestinian activists from reaching the border where they would endanger the lives of IDF border guards, as well as potentially their own lives.The defense minister called the pro-Palestinians “jihadists,” saying they would also endanger the stability of the governing Egyptian regime and other moderate Arab governments in the region.
Further, Katz said that the pro-Palestinian group has ideological overlaps with Hamas and is seeking not just to help with humanitarian aid, but to help Hamas in its struggle to continue as the rulers of Gaza.
Moreover, Katz clarified that if Egypt fails to stop the pro-Palestinian group, the IDF would take the necessary measures to prevent them from entering Gaza.
The march is 48 km. and will take three days, according to organizing groups, such as the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine in Tunisia and Libyans for Palestine.
The Global Marchers claimed they are “planning a short stay in Rafah, from June 15-19,” but “this will depend on authorizations from the Egyptian government.”
“We aim to negotiate the opening of the Rafah terminal with the Egyptian authorities, in collaboration with NGOs, diplomats, and humanitarian institutions,” they said.
Both the convoy and the March to Gaza have been hugely publicized among pro-Palestine groups around the world. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Amsterdam said it will be joining the march, and called for financial support to fly to Cairo.
