GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA LAND CONVOY UPDATE 18 May 2026

Proceeding from the humanitarian and moral duty towards the Palestinian people besieged in the Gaza Strip, participants from various parts of the world have gathered within an international civilian convoy carrying a message of pure humanitarian solidarity, far removed from any political considerations or narrow alignments.

We, the Global Sumud Flotilla, the Maghreb Sumud Organization, representatives of activists from European countries, and representatives and activists from Turkey, in light of the smear campaigns and distortion targeting this initiative, affirm that this convoy represents the will of peoples and individuals who believe in the human right to life and dignity, representing 25 countries from every continent of the world, and they have come carrying aid and hope to a people facing an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

All participants in this convoy have joined of their own free will and with a firm humanitarian conviction of the necessity of delivering urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged civilians in the Gaza Strip. This aid includes essential, medical, and relief supplies, including baby formula, medicines, and health supplies, along with ambulances, vehicles, and mobile homes designated to support those affected. The convoy also includes diverse professional competencies, including doctors, teachers, engineers, and specialists, who have expressed their readiness to dedicate their expertise to serve the population in Gaza. In light of the obstacles imposed on the convoy's route, the participants are currently in the vicinity of Sirte, where they continue to camp in difficult humanitarian and climatic conditions.

For more than 24 hours since our arrival at this location, communication and contact means have been subject to jamming and disruption throughout the area separating us from the city of Sirte, which has prevented many participants from contacting their families and checking on their well-being. The participants continue to camp in harsh field and climatic conditions, high temperatures during the day, and low temperatures at night. Despite the difficulty of these conditions, we affirm that what we are experiencing remains minimal compared to the ongoing human suffering endured by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip for more than thirty-one months.

Although an official statement was issued by the authorities of East Libya expressing their support for humanitarian convoys that reject normalization with the occupying power, we still face an intensive security presence along the road leading to our destination. And out of our concern for the safety of all participants, the decision was made to stop and camp at the last safe point before reaching the city of Sirte, until clear and safe guarantees are provided to complete the convoy's route. 

It is worth noting that according to Article 70 of Additional Protocol I to the Fourth Geneva Convention (1977), humanitarian relief actions are obligatory to undertake, and parties are required to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of relief supplies, equipment, and personnel designated for humanitarian purposes, which affirms the binding legal framework upon which this convoy is based. Believing in the role of community structures and partners in the success of the convoy and ensuring its humanitarian character, we continue to coordinate with the Red Crescent as a mediator in this course. Despite exerting all possible efforts to open direct communication channels with the relevant authorities, clear approval for the convoy's passage and the delivery of aid has not yet been obtained, including the lack of approval for the entry of specialized teams of doctors, engineers, and other professionals. We have also received confirmed information about a newly positioned security force just a few kilometers from the convoy's location, which has caused the participants to feel anxiety and panic, and has placed us in a state of constant alert to ensure the safety of the participants. 

In conclusion, we affirm that all participants in this convoy have come from various parts of the world, from diverse backgrounds, ages, religions, and beliefs, and have gathered within a single civilian initiative out of a pure humanitarian motive. What brings us together in this convoy is a shared belief in the value of the human being and their dignity, and that humanity remains the greatest unifier above all differences.