Land and flotilla convoy run Israel's Gaza siege

[Opinion. For those with limited attention spans, note this post refers to two articles.

The concept of this land “convoy” of humanitarian aid blocked, as usual, by Egypt is entirely different to what I propose as the IPF, an Int’l Peace Force.

First of all, “convoy” is a military term. The large number of vehicles and participants looks like an invasion.

Libyan PM Abdulhamid Dbeibah welcomed the convoy as a “fraternal humanitarian initiative”.

I’m proposing something quite different. Nonviolence in word and deed, no confrontations. A small group of Walkers but large enough to be taken seriously by both sides. A single open access vehicle to carry all our gear.

Lebanon rather than Gaza. The media has abandoned Gaza. Perhaps a mission to Southern Lebanon will bring back the focus to one of the worst atrocities being committed on the planet today.

Yep, I’m trying to get traction for this. And of course, I’ll go myself.]

Land convoy sets out from Libya as part of Gaza flotilla effort

Two hundred participants from 25 different countries are participating in the convoy, riding in the 20 mobile homes, 7 ambulance or medical transport vehicles, and other locomotives [sic].

Michael Starr

Jerusalem Post: 17 May 2026

A land convoy set out from Libya to Gaza on Saturday as part of the simultaneous Gaza flotilla effort, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla, with 30 vehicles making the journey from Zalitan to Rafah.

There are 350 participants from 30 countries iin the convoy, riding 20 mobile homes, seven ambulances or medical transport vehicles, and other locomotives [sic] that comprise the motorcade. The delegation includes doctors, nurses, engineers, and builders, GSF said in a press release.

Participants are from Turkey. Spain. Italy, France, Tunisia, Greece, Malaysia,  United States, Switzerland, Algeria, Ireland, Brazil, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, Pakistan, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Finland, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Argentina, Kuwait, New Zealand, Bahrain, Colombia, Uruguay, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Oman, Serbia and Slovakia. [It is simply impossible that all of these are Hamas supporters.]

Past flotilla participant and Nelson Mandela grandson Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela said on Instagram that the mission was to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, with a broader goal of opening the free flow of aid into the Strip. He also noted that they demanded the release of all “Palestinian prisoners” and the realization of a “free Palestine from river to sea.”

“We say to the Israeli entity that it doesn’t matter to us how many times we are intercepted, arrested, and tortured. We will not be silenced,” said Mandela.

Mandela and GSF noted that the convoy would move in tandem with a flotilla of 54 vessels that had set out from Turkey on Thursday, as part of a second blockade run after 20 of the activist armada’s vessels were intercepted by the Israeli Navy in April.

Some activists attempted to protest the Egyptian denial of their march, clashing with security forces outside the Ismailia checkpoint.

[Opinion. This time the flotilla is using a different strategy, using vessels from a vital ally Israel needs: Turkey.]

Netanyahu Meets With Security Cabinet Ahead of Turkish Flotilla’s Arrival

Jerusalem Post: 18 May 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a preliminary security consultation Sunday ahead of the expected arrival of a Turkish flotilla carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists seeking to reach the Gaza Strip and challenge Israel’s naval blockade.

The flotilla, consisting of 54 vessels carrying about 400 activists, is expected to arrive near Israel within less than two days. The convoy departed from Turkey as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s second blockade run to Gaza.