Tripoli - Saba:
The "Maghreb Steadfastness" Convoy, which departed from Tunisia via Libya, stopped at the Egyptian border en route to the Rafah Crossing.
This came at a time when the convoy sparked widespread controversy in Egypt, with a marked public welcome on social media and clear confusion in the response of some pro-government groups.
News reports indicated that the journey of the Maghreb Steadfastness Convoy, which hopes to reach the Rafah Crossing to break the siege on the Gaza Strip, comes amid the absence of a clear official announcement from the Egyptian government regarding the convoy's fate or the possibility of allowing it to reach Gaza.
The convoy, comprised of hundreds of volunteers from Tunisia and Algeria, set out in more than 160 vehicles loaded with medical and humanitarian aid in a symbolic attempt to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. The convoy was widely praised by the Maghreb population, who viewed it as an embodiment of Arab popular solidarity with Palestine and a message of political and media pressure on the international community.
Reports indicated that Egypt's official handling of the convoy appeared cautious and muted. No statement has yet been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or relevant authorities clarifying whether Cairo will allow the convoy to reach the Rafah crossing, or whether it will treat it as a popular cross-border movement at a critical security and political time.
It also has not commented on the arrest of the Algerian activists. This comes amid circulating unofficial reports of security concerns regarding the large number of participants, prior coordination mechanisms, and the possibility of unwanted organizational breaches.
Algerian lawyer Fatiha Rouibi revealed the detention of three Algerian lawyers at Cairo International Airport who had planned to participate in the humanitarian convoy.
Rouibi stated in a social media post that Egyptian authorities detained her fellow lawyers, Mustafaoui Samir, Mohamed Atef Briki, and Abbas Abdel Nour, along with approximately 37 other convoy participants.
The Joint Action for Palestine Coordination Committee, which is organizing the convoy, emphasized that the goal of this movement is to "create a human bridge to provide aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and send a message to the world to take action to support Palestinian rights."
The convoy sparked controversy on social media in Egypt, with parliamentarians and media professionals warning of the repercussions of what they called "an uncalculated adventure."
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