From Quds News: In a bold move to challenge Israel’s suffocating blockade on Gaza, tens of thousands of participants from around the world are preparing to join the “March of the Free” — a transnational convoy aimed at delivering humanitarian aid and pressuring Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing.
Speaking to Quds News Network, Youssef Aziz, Media Officer for the March of the Free, explained that the initiative began as a personal commitment by young Arab expatriates in Europe and North Africa.
“The idea started with a group of Moroccan and Algerian youth living abroad,” Aziz said. “They decided to leave behind their jobs and daily lives, take only a backpack, and head towards Gaza to break the siege.”
What began as a modest individual initiative has since grown into a large, coordinated movement. The campaign now includes delegations from 54 countries, with expectations of tens of thousands of participants, possibly reaching 50,000, Aziz said. While exact numbers are not disclosed due to security concerns, estimates suggest that at least 20,000 people will join, with the Tunisia-based “Convoy of Steadfastness” alone expected to bring around 10,000.
The March of the Free is organized in coordination with the Global March to Gaza — a peaceful, civilian-led movement that rejects any political affiliation. Its mission is rooted in human dignity, justice, and solidarity with Gaza’s besieged population.
“We are fully aligned with the global message of peace, humanity, and non-elitist solidarity,” said Aziz. “Our regional goals remain the same: to create pressure on the Egyptian authorities to allow aid into Gaza through Rafah, and to challenge the Israeli blockade.”
The main convoy is set to begin on June 12, making its way to Cairo, then Arish, and finally to Rafah. The march aims to be a nonviolent show of civil pressure, forcing the issue into international focus through both media presence and humanitarian urgency.
Despite its peaceful nature, the convoy has faced multiple obstacles. Egyptian authorities have not yet issued official permits, and there are growing concerns that Palestinian and Egyptian nationals are being barred from participating.
“There are legal complications and restrictions, especially against Palestinians and Egyptians wishing to join the march,” Aziz said. “There’s no clear coordination with Egyptian authorities at the diplomatic level, but we have on-ground facilitation teams.”
Aziz confirmed that while diplomatic letters have been sent to Egyptian embassies, there has been no official response. Nevertheless, the organizers remain determined.
“Whatever happens, we are not going back. If we are stopped — whether at Cairo airport or in Arish — we will decide on our next steps from the field.”
To navigate any potential legal hurdles, the movement has established legal teams in Egypt, across all participating countries, and at the international level.
Aziz emphasized that the march is only the beginning of a broader effort to support Gaza through civilian solidarity.
“This is not a temporary campaign. It’s the spark for a series of future convoys to deliver aid and break the siege,” he said.
The Global March to Gaza has stressed that it will not force any barriers or borders, instead seeking to negotiate passage through Rafah in cooperation with humanitarian groups, NGOs, and diplomats. Its call is clear: “If states fail, the people must act.”
For the people of Gaza, Aziz’s message is simple but powerful:
“We see you as defenders of justice. Our goal is to support you with aid. The very least we can do is stand by you.”
As Gaza continues to endure relentless bombardment and near-total blockade, the March of the Free represents a rare and powerful mobilization of global civil society — united by a shared belief in justice and human dignity.
Whether the march reaches Rafah or is halted along the way, its organizers are determined to keep Gaza on the world’s agenda.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, and injured more than 126,000 others. Entire neighborhoods have been wiped out, hospitals and shelters bombed, and over 1.9 million people displaced, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.
On May 20, 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) took a historic step, announcing that it is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation as a method of warfare, extermination, and deliberate targeting of civilians. These developments have amplified global calls to end the siege, deliver aid, and hold those responsible accountable for the unfolding atrocity.
