North African convoy for Gaza reports mistreatment in eastern Libya by Haftar forces

A North African aid convoy that departed from Tunisia to break the Israeli siege of Gaza has reported that its activists were mistreated and arrested in eastern Libya during the weekend.

The "Sumud" Convoy, which means "steadfastness" in Arabic, departed from Tunis on 9 June, consisting of about 10 buses, a hundred cars, and thousands of volunteers from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Mauritania, among others.

Participants include trade union and political figures, as well as human rights activists, athletes, lawyers, doctors, journalists and members of youth organisations. It aims to raise international awareness about the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s war on the Palestinian enclave and deliver aid.

Stopped in eastern Libya

The convoy was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Tripoli on Wednesday when, according to local media, residents offered food, accommodation and fuel.

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But organisers said on Sunday that while en route to Egypt, the caravan was blocked in Sirte by authorities from eastern Libya.

Since 2014, Libya has been divided into two rival administrations in the east and west of the country. The Government of National Unity, backed by the UN, is based in Tripoli and led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh; its rival, the House of Representatives, is based in Tobruk and dominated by General Khalifa Haftar.

The caravan retreated to near Misrata in western Libya after it encountered Haftar officials in Sirte, which is under his control.

In a statement on Saturday, the Joint Action Coordination Committee for Palestine, the organiser of the convoy, said they had been facing a "military blockade" and "a methodical siege” at the entrance to Sirte since Friday.

The statement accused Haftar's authorities of not only blocking the convoy's advance but also isolating it by cutting off communication and the internet. Haftar's forces are also accused of preventing the delivery of food, water and medical supplies to the approximately 1,500 participants.

A support caravan, organised by Libyan citizens in solidarity, was forcibly stopped from entering Sirte.

The organisers also denounced the arrest of participants, including at least three bloggers documenting the caravan's journey since its departure. The trhee arrested participants have been identified as Tunisian Ala Ben Amara and Algerians Bilal Ourtani and Zidane Nezar. They have been accused of posting "offensive videos" and reportedly denied contact with lawyers or family.

Wael Nawar, the spokesperson for the caravan, said on Facebook on Saturday that he had been kidnapped, violently assaulted and robbed of his money by Haftar-allied authorities.

In another statement on Sunday, the organisers demanded the immediate release of 13 participants still detained by the eastern Libyan authorities. According to the statement, one officer even threatened participants at gunpoint during one of the arrests.

Egypt and UAE, allies of Haftar

Some Libyan news websites have suggested that the convoy was stopped at the entrance to Sirte after pressure from Egypt.

Cairo said on Wednesday that any form of pro-Palestinian action by "foreign delegations" on its territory required "prior authorisation". That same day, Israel urged Egyptian authorities to ban any "act of provocation” by pro-Palestinian activists on their territory and any “attempted entry into Gaza”.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has previously been a key backer of Haftar, although they are on opposite sides of the war in Sudan, which is raging on both countries’ southern borders.

But the two men are nevertheless allied to the UAE, which has backed them financially before and is a key Arab ally of Israel.

The Sumud convoy is part of the larger Global March to Gaza movement, which includes around 4,000 activists from around 80 countries.

Both movements were expected to coordinate in Egypt before marching to the Rafah crossing. The Global March was blocked on Friday by Egyptian authorities as it tried to reach Ismailia, 45km east of Cairo.

AFP reported that on Friday, during police operations at various checkpoints, dozens of activists were intercepted, sometimes assaulted, and their passports confiscated, before being forcibly put on buses.

Several dozen activists were later freed in Cairo, while others remain in custody, according to organisers.

French-Palestinian participant Sami, who came with his father and a friend from Paris, expressed his anger to RFI radio.

"It makes me feel ashamed for this Egyptian government to be stuck here while a genocide is taking place. We're all here peacefully to break this blockade and bring in humanitarian aid, and now we see how we're being welcomed. It's a disgrace. It's disgusting complicity."

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