Meeting in Cairo, Egypt, over 30 countries are coming together for a historic international march in solidarity with Gaza.
Historic initiative
In a first-of-its-kind step, a coalition of unions, solidarity movements, and international human rights organizations from over 32 countries has announced the launch of the “Global March to Gaza” — a plan to enter the Gaza Strip on foot in response to the catastrophic humanitarian conditions endured by its population under an Israeli siege that has lasted nearly 20 months.
The march aims to directly stop the genocide against the Palestinian people, facilitate the immediate entry of humanitarian aid, and demand an end to the siege on Gaza.
Participants are from Western countries, not just from Arab or Muslim communities, with more than 10,000 people having expressed interest in joining. Task forces have been formed geographically to ensure effective logistics and multilingual media communication.
The march follows an Israeli plan to delegate aid entry to a private company, which the UN has rejected, arguing it would worsen displacement, restrict aid access, and tie humanitarian aid to political and military agendas.
Key objectives of the march
Around 3,000 aid trucks loaded with food, medicine, and fuel have been waiting for months at Rafah. The march’s primary goal is to break the inhumane blockade imposed since 7 October 2023.
According to the organizers, other goals include:
- Stop the genocide
Collective, practical action to halt ongoing Israeli crimes, especially the use of starvation as a weapon and the systematic killing of children. - Immediate humanitarian aid access
Demand for direct and urgent entry of food, medical supplies, and essentials through the Rafah Crossing, where thousands of trucks have been stuck at the border. - End the siege
Call for the unconditional opening of a stable humanitarian corridor and removal of restrictions preventing access to food, clean water, fuel, and medicine. - Mobilize international opinion
Unite civil societies across countries to expose war crimes, pressure governments, and engage global media in supporting justice and Palestinian human rights. - Accountability for war crimes
Call for legal and ethical accountability for all parties contributing to or complicit in violations against the Palestinian people.
Solidarity as a principle
German lawyer Melanie Schweizer explained that this peaceful initiative also sends symbolic messages of international solidarity, aiming to:
- Represent civil societies of the participating countries.
- Involve unions, rights organizations, medical and humanitarian sectors, and individuals from all backgrounds to amplify the voice of global civil society.
- Emphasize the nonviolent and voluntary nature of the march — no government backing, and participants self-fund their journey.
March route and logistics
Because participants come from various countries, the plan is to converge in Cairo starting 12 June, then travel to Arish and proceed on foot to Gaza via Rafah Crossing.
Eduard Camacho, from the Catalan union IAC, confirmed that each person will cover their own expenses with minimal logistical support. The route involves:
- Coordinating local start points and liaising with ground activities.
- Dividing participants into national groups, each organizing in its own language and culture.
- Reaching Cairo, traveling to Arish, and marching by foot to Rafah.
- Engaging embassies and Egyptian authorities, formally requesting cooperation.
- Staging a sit-in at Rafah Crossing to demand its opening and aid delivery.