In an unprecedented act of grassroots courage and international solidarity, thousands of activists from North Africa set out for Palestine to break Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip. One of the key participants in this journey is Hatem Laouini, a member of La Vía Campesina-Tunisia, who shared his experience in a collaborative interview conducted by journalists from the Forum for Communication for the Integration of Our America (FCINA).
The Madleen Freedom Flotilla, the Global March to Gaza, and the Sumud Convoy are three internationalist actions led by social movements whose common goal is to break the blockade imposed by the occupying Israeli state and denounce the daily genocide against the Palestinian people, both in Gaza and the West Bank.
Hatem Laouini, a leader in the “One Million Rural Women” movement and the landless workers’ movement, described the Sumud Caravan as a truly grassroots initiative, driven by the people of Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco. Although it lacked official support, the convoy kept growing and received backing from Tunisia’s largest trade union center, the UGTT; the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights; and the Tunisian League for Human Rights, among other organizations.
“We set off from Tunisia with around 200 vehicles and kept growing. Along the way, 50 or 60 buses joined us—reaching about 2,500 people. In each city we passed through, people showed us support, giving water and food,” he recounted. The Sumud Caravan—Sumud meaning “steadfast resistance” in Arabic—carried a clear message: the Palestinian people are not alone.
“This massive show of support proves that the people are with Palestine and made it clear: Free Palestine, from the river to the sea, end the genocide! Even when their governments maintain shameful alliances with Israel and the United States. It was a source of great pride to be part of this caravan,” he emphasized.
Political Blockade of the Caravan
The journey, however, met its first major obstacle in the Libyan city of Sirte, where local forces blocked the caravan’s progress. “The orders clearly came from Egypt, Israel, and the United States. What we did was an act of resistance; they want submission, but the convoy liberated the minds and the will of the people,” Laouini stated.
During the blockade, at least 14 activists were arrested, including Libyan, Algerian, and Tunisian citizens. Still, the caravan stood firm. “La Vía Campesina had five older rural women among the participants. Despite the harsh conditions, they refused to leave. That shows the depth of our commitment,” he added.
After several days of blockades and detentions, the caravan regrouped in Zlitun, western Libya, from where they planned their return to Tunisia. “All members returned safely and in good health. We return with our heads held high, knowing that we made history,” he said. And added: “This was a Maghreb caravan. It showed that people can challenge the world order and place dignity, justice, and freedom at the center. We will continue fighting for a free Palestine.”
The peasant leader also condemned the governments complicit with Israel:
“These include Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, which have joined Egypt, Morocco, and Jordan in normalizing ties with Israel—a shameful act. When (U.S. President Donald) Trump visited the region, he left with five trillion dollars. That could have built ten Gazas and liberated ten Palestines.”
Although they did not reach Rafah, the impact of the Sumud Caravan echoed across the occupied territories. “We received hundreds of videos from Gaza thanking us. Even if we didn’t break the siege, the message was clear: Palestine is not alone. We showed that the people can take the lead,” the Tunisian activist affirmed.
From Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)—also a member of La Vía Campesina—sent messages of support. “A Palestinian comrade told us that this was the greatest expression of international solidarity,” Laouini recounted.
This is an abridged version of the article that first appeared on Noticias de América Latina y el Caribe. To read the full interview, click here.