Overland Aid Convoy to Gaza Blocked by Military Forces

A land convoy delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza has been blocked outside Sirte, in the buffer zone between eastern and western Libya, with reports emerging that eastern Libyan forces nearby are preparing for a violent confrontation with activists. 

Participants in the Global Sumud Land Convoy, which is composed of more than 350 people from 25 countries, say their 30 vehicles are unable to move forwards or backwards. 

On Monday morning, a flotilla of 50 boats organised by the same group and sailing to Gaza through waters west of Cyprus was intercepted by Israeli forces, with videos showing Israeli commanders storming the fleet.

Spokespeople for the land convoy said they started negotiating with Libyan officials as early as January, as part of plans to cross the country into Egypt and then Gaza to deliver medicine, ambulances and mobile homes to the Palestinian enclave.

A previous land convoy was also intercepted near Sirte in June 2025, while heading to meet the Global March to Gaza. While the convoy was blocked and forced to retreat by a military blockade in Libya, the 2025 march ended with hundreds of activists violently arrested and deported by Egyptian authorities. Organisers were forced to cancel their journey towards Rafah.

This year’s convoy – carrying 30 containers of humanitarian aid, 20 mobile housing units, and five ambulances – has now set up camp on the outskirts of the same city amid fears for the safety of participants. 

For more than 24 hours, activists report that their phone lines and other contact means have been jammed, nor do they have access to food or water in the buffer zone. 

Representatives of the Global Sumud Land Flotilla hoped that this year’s mission would have more success than previous attempts to reach Gaza, bringing together a smaller group of experienced humanitarian aid workers, doctors and lawyers. The convoy is working closely with the Libyan branch of the Red Crescent, which is acting as their official mediator. 

They add that the Geneva Convention stipulates that parties to any international conflict should facilitate the safe passage of humanitarian relief, if civilians are not adequately supplied. 

Novara Media understands that discussions with eastern Libyan authorities are ongoing.