Ground Assault on Gaza: Humanitarian Convoy with Chilean Detained in Desert

Original article: El cerco a Gaza también opera por tierra: convoy humanitario con chileno a bordo fue retenido en el desierto The Global Sumud humanitarian convoy, working alongside the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) to break the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza —which includes Chilean Felipe Uthman— has been held at the Eastern Libyan border while making its way toward the Palestinian enclave. This mission comprises approximately 200 activists from over 25 countries, mobilizing in more than 30 vehicles —including ambulances, specialized transport, and mobile homes— aiming to reach the Rafah crossing in Egypt to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. However, as reported by the Palestinian Community in Chile, the caravan has now been stranded in the desert for five nights.

«We have been waiting in the desert for five days for a response that has yet to arrive» Felipe Uthman, an internationalist from the University of Chile who has actively participated in solidarity initiatives with Palestine, provided an account of the challenges faced by the humanitarian group after Eastern Libyan authorities blocked access through their region—essential for reaching Gaza—following Cairo’s ban on entering Egypt by land for all foreigners, except those who are Libyan nationals. «We have been waiting in the desert for five days for a response that has yet to arrive. We managed to pass the checkpoint and reached the Eastern Libyan border, but we were not allowed to proceed,» he explained in remarks shared by the Palestinian Community in Chile on their Instagram account.

The activist noted that the group was also unable to remain at their initially planned location due to security concerns and had to move approximately 15 kilometers away from the border, where they continue to camp. Regarding the negotiations, Uthman mentioned that the authorities proposed an option where humanitarian aid would be handed over directly to them. However, he warned that «the significant problem is that there are no guarantees that this aid will actually reach Gaza and the Palestinian people.

» View this post on Instagram Due to the lack of responses, the convoy sent a delegation to negotiate and submit an official letter requesting permission to proceed. «We need to know if the negotiations will continue or if they have reached a deadlock,» emphasized the Chilean activist. While conversations continue and they await a definitive answer regarding the convoy’s future, participants in the mission remain in an area that provides no safety guarantees.

It is important to recall that on Thursday, the 428 activists who were abducted by Israel after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in international waters were finally released following international pressure and transported on flights to Istanbul. Among this group were four Chilean citizens: Víctor Chanfreau, Carolina Eltit, Claudio Caiozzi, and Ignacio Ladrón de Guevara. The latter was traveling with a Spanish passport and was part of the Spanish delegation.