13/6/2025–|Last update: 10:10 (Mecca time)
On Friday morning, the security forces of the authorities of eastern Libya arrested the “Al -Samoud convoy” heading to Benghazi, in support of Gaza, at the entrance to the city of Sirte, on the pretext of waiting for security approval.
The coordination of joint work for Gaza said – in a statement – that “the security forces and the army of eastern Libya, arrested the convoy about half an hour ago, at the entrance to the city of Sirte. Security officials have explained the need to wait for instructions to agree from Benghazi in order to pass.”
In the face of this development, the convoy running decided to stop on the side of the road and camping on the outskirts of Sirte, if necessary, until the situation became clear, according to the statement, which reassured the families of the convoy that all of its members are fine.
The convoy called on the Benghazi authorities to “embody their welcome position, as stated in the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on the eve of yesterday,” stressing that “the Libyan people do not differentiate between East and West in their embrace of the Gaza support initiatives.”
The coordination also appealed to all the parties concerned to intervene to facilitate the mission of the caravan, which confirmed that it is popular and peaceful, and with a noble message aimed at breaking the siege, starvation and extermination of the people of Gaza.
Disagreement
Local sources indicated that the differences within the security and military services in eastern Libya are hindering the progress of the convoy, as a military force with strict Salafi directions opposes its passage, while another security force seeks to prevent the Libyan youths accompanying only, for fear of frictions with armed formations loyal to the retired Major General Khalifa Haftar on the road leading to Benghazi.
Al -Jazeera correspondent said that the matter is still foggy, noting that sources in Misurata confirmed that there are efforts to allow the convoy to pass.
The initial allowance for the passage of the convoy was made by agreement between Saddam Haftar (the son of Major General Haftar) and one of the military commanders from Misurata, but sources suggested other wings inside the Haftar camp seeking to disrupt the agreement.
The coordination of joint work for Palestine said – in a post on its Facebook page – that the Municipal Council of Misurata and the Supreme Committee for the Libyan Aid campaign for the Palestinian people made an appeal to the people of Misurata to participate in the popular reception of the steadfast caravan heading to break the siege on Gaza, in support of the steadfastness of the philosophical people and a victory for its just cause.
And the past night, the convoy, which includes hundreds of activists, arrived in the city of Zliten (western Libya) in its third stop, where it received a wide public reception.
The convoy, which started from Tunisia, consists of at least 1,500 people, including activists and supporters from Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania, with more Libya to join.
This convoy includes approximately 20 buses and about 350 cars, as part of a popular movement in solidarity to support about 2.4 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
During the past few days, initiatives have rolled up to break the siege on Gaza, and cut relations with Israel and the Benjamin Netanyahu government -wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide -in protest against the war on the Gaza Strip.
The humanitarian sector crisis has worsened since Israel closed the crossings on March 2, preventing the introduction of food, medicine, aid and fuel, while its army ascends the genocide committed by the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip.
With absolute American support, Israel has committed since October 7, 2023 genocide crimes in Gaza, which left more than 182,000 martyrs and wounded Palestinians, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing, as well as hundreds of thousands of displaced people.