Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists from 31 countries are due to march to Egypt’s Rafah crossing demanding humanitarian access besieged Gaza.
The mass mobilisation, from June 12–20, will begin in Cairo and is aimed at breaking the humanitarian blockade on Gaza and calling for immediate aid access through the Rafah border crossing.
The initiative, known as the Global March to Gaza, is a grassroots, civilian-led effort involving over 150 NGOs. Organisers say the movement is entirely independent, apolitical, and driven by universal values of justice, human dignity and peace.
Dr Huseyin Durmaz, a Türkiye-based physician with the International Health Initiative, told Anadolu Agency: “We formed an international coalition from over 150 organisations across 31 countries. This time we will march to Rafah to pressure international institutions to fulfil their duty.”
The campaign will begin on June 12 in Cairo, where delegations will assemble before travelling to al-Arish.
On June 13, they will begin a 48km march toward Rafah, culminating in mass rallies on June 14 and 15. Demonstrators plan to remain in tented encampments near the border until June 19.
Organisers expect between 2,500 and 3,000 participants to join, although there is no formal cap. The campaign remains peaceful, with organisers stressing they will not attempt to breach the border.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
“We will not force any barrier,” said Durmaz. “Our aim is to open Rafah peacefully through civic pressure and legal means.”
Egyptian authorities have not yet granted official permission for the action, but diplomatic communications are ongoing.
Organisers insist their objective is to work alongside embassies, NGOs, and humanitarian groups to establish a secure, sustained aid corridor.
The march comes amid dire conditions in Gaza. Since March 2, Israel has sealed all crossings into the strip, triggering widespread famine and a collapse of the health system. Aid agencies report that entire areas are now inaccessible, with food and medicine blocked.
Israeli forces resumed full-scale operations on March 18 after a brief ceasefire, with at least 3,613 Palestinians killed since then. The overall death toll since October 2023 has now surpassed 53,700, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
March organisers say the symbolic and visible presence of thousands of peaceful civilians will help pressure international bodies to act. “This is not just about money,” reads a statement from the movement. “This is about creating moral pressure. If states fail, then the people must step in.”
The organisers also clarified that the movement has no central funding and that participants are self-financed. No donations or online fundraisers are being collected to maintain independence and transparency.
The campaign’s peak event is scheduled for June 15 — a massive rally at Rafah intended to broadcast the urgent humanitarian message to the world.
Egypt, alongside Israel, has imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of the Gaza Strip, particularly since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007.
Egypt has maintained strict control over the Rafah crossing, often keeping it closed or heavily restricted for extended periods. The crossing is Gaza’s primary connection to the outside world for people, as goods typically enter through Israeli-controlled crossings like Kerem Shalom.
Egypt limits passage to specific cases, such as medical emergencies, students, or foreign nationals, and requires permits, which are often difficult to obtain.
