Cairo: Swiss activists have embarked on a journey to Egypt to participate in the "Global March to Gaza," a significant protest against the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The march aims to bring together activists and health care workers from 54 countries to protest Israel's military actions and to advocate for humanitarian aid access to the region.
According to Anadolu Agency, participants will convene in Cairo, Egypt's capital, on June 12 before traveling to the city of al-Arish. From al-Arish, the protesters plan to march for three days to the Rafah border crossing, where they intend to set up tent protests and conduct a large rally to draw global attention to the plight of Gaza's residents. The activists have scheduled their demonstration to conclude on June 20.
Swiss activist Samuel Crettenand expressed the urgency and necessity of the march, stating that the initiative is a response to the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Crettenand emphasized that the march represents a crucial effort to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with hopes that the movement will have a lasting impact, even if success is not immediate.
Crettenand highlighted the logistical preparations underway, noting that participants plan to travel from Cairo to al-Arish by bus on June 13, pending approval from Egyptian authorities. He mentioned that they are actively liaising with ambassadors from various countries in Egypt to secure the necessary permissions, expressing optimism that Egyptian authorities share the goal of allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Raya, another Swiss activist of Palestinian origin, underscored the humanitarian and justice-driven motivations behind the march. She expressed hope that the collective effort would awaken global awareness and contribute to ending the longstanding oppression faced by Palestinians in Gaza.
The march takes place amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, now in its second year, with Israeli military operations having resumed on March 18 following the breakdown of a ceasefire. Since October 2023, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of nearly 55,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to reports. The continued closure of Gaza's border crossings by Israel since early March has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, raising concerns about potential famine among the territory's 2.4 million residents.