Solidarity Convoy Departs Tunis for Gaza, Haftar’s Libya Moves Toward Türkiye Maritime Deal, Mediterranean Rescue Highlights Migrant Crisis

A major solidarity convoy named “Al-Soumoud” (Steadfastness) set off from Tunis on June 9, 2025, with the goal of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenging the ongoing blockade. The convoy includes nearly 1,000 volunteers from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Egypt, and is traveling overland through Libya en route to Egypt’s Rafah crossing. Organizers, inspired by the earlier Madleen initiative, report that the movement has swelled to over 10,000 participants, describing it as a “moral uprising” in support of Gaza. The convoy’s journey has attracted widespread attention and calls for public support to ensure its safe passage.

In Libya, the eastern administration led by General Khalifa Haftar is preparing to ratify a controversial maritime agreement with Türkiye. Originally signed in 2019 between Türkiye and Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli, the deal delineates maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, granting Türkiye significant rights to energy exploration. The agreement has long been opposed by Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt, who argue it infringes on their territorial waters and violates international law. Libya’s eastern parliament, which previously rejected the deal, has now formed a committee to review and potentially ratify it—a move signaling a significant shift in regional alliances and raising concerns among neighboring countries. Turkish officials have welcomed the review, citing historical ties and mutual interests in the region.

Meanwhile, on June 4, 2025, a distress call was received from a boat off the Libyan coast, prompting a nearby vessel to alter course for two hours to assist in a rescue operation. The incident highlights the persistent dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean and underscores the ongoing need for coordinated maritime safety efforts in the region.

These developments reflect shifting alliances and humanitarian challenges across North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, with both political maneuvering and grassroots solidarity efforts shaping the regional landscape.