An emergency protest on June 19 outside the Egyptian Consulate in the CBD was called in response to the Sumud Convoy being blocked and the arrest and detainment of activists participating in the Global March for Gaza.
The convoy, dubbed “Sumud” or steadfastness, departed Tunis, Tunisia on June 9. Thousands of activists from North African countries, including Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania had joined.
The convoy aimed to reach the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Palestine and enter into Gaza. But it was blocked by authorities in Eastern Libya, and activists were detained.
Hundreds of people who travelled to Cairo to join the convoy were also arrested and interrogated by Egyptian authorities.
The protest demanded safe passage for current and any future solidarity convoys, the release of all detained activists and for aid to be allowed to enter into Gaza.
Egyptian-Australian activists Mohammed Helmy and Hannah Hannahurged people not be fooled by rhetoric. "While Gaza faces siege, starvation and genocide, the Egyptian government is actively complicit ... it is not opening border and enforcing a blockade,” Helmy said.
"We stand with our North African brothers and sisters — people of conscience and dignity — who have been blocked by Eastern Libyan authorities with the complicity of Egypt,” Helmy added, describing the Egyptian government's conduct as “shameful”.
Palestinian activist Ihab Al Azhari criticised those North African and West Asian countries which have normalised relations with Israel. He also spoke out against US-backed Israeli attacks on Iran.
Socialist Alliance Merri-Bek councillor Sue Bolton said the international convoys, as part of the Global March for Gaza, were very important, to show solidarity to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. She said the pro-Palestine movement globally had to find tactics to break the blockade and siege of Gaza to ensure aid can enter.
“It is shameful that the corporate media has not covered the convoy,” Bolton said, adding that Israel’s weaponisation of food aid was also.
Nabil, a Tunisian student activist, recalled the 1948 mass mobilisation, which started in Tunisia, whereby thousands of Tunisian volunteer soldiers departed for Palestine following the Nakba.
[Please contact Egyptian embassies and consulates to demand the release of Global March of Gaza activists. (03) 9614 1888 or email consulate.melbourne@mfa.gov.eg; (02) 6273 4437 or email embassy.canberra@mfa.gov.eg; (02) 9290 1822 or email conact@egyptconsulatesydney.com]