TUNIS (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The “Sumud” Convoy, which means “steadfastness” in Arabic, a Maghreb solidarity convoy aiming to break the Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza, announced on Wednesday that it has returned to Tunisia after the release of its last detained member by the eastern Libyan authorities.
Nabil al-Shunufi, the convoy’s spokesperson, told Anadolu Agency via phone that the group had departed from the Libyan city of Zliten and was now en route back to Tunisia. “The last of those arrested was released this morning by authorities in eastern Libya,” he said.
Earlier this week, the convoy had declared it would not leave Libya until all detained participants were released. Three Libyan activists had been held by the government affiliated with the eastern-based House of Representatives. Their release early Wednesday was confirmed by al-Shunufi, who noted that the convoy’s exit from Libya was “conditional on the return of all those detained,” a message conveyed to all mediators involved.
The convoy had previously been halted by Libyan security forces at the entrance to Sirte on Thursday evening, awaiting a decision from officials in Benghazi. In response, the group returned to Misrata—deemed a safe point—to demand the release of the detained members.
Libya’s eastern Interior Ministry claimed it detained several convoy members due to a lack of valid travel documents or identification papers.
The convoy, which consisted of more than 1,500 activists from across North Africa, had entered Libya from Tunisia with the goal of reaching Egypt via the Salloum border crossing, then proceeding to the Rafah crossing into Gaza. Their aim was to demonstrate against the ongoing blockade and genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
However, the eastern Libyan government refused the convoy’s passage through the Masad border crossing, effectively cutting off the group’s planned route.
Libya remains divided between two rival governments: the UN-recognized Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli, and a parallel administration backed by the House of Representatives in Benghazi.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel—with unwavering US support—has continued a genocidal campaign in Gaza, killing or wounding more than 185,000 Palestinians, leaving over 11,000 missing, and displacing hundreds of thousands. The genocidal war has also triggered a severe famine, claiming countless lives, including those of children.
