Source: https://www.blick.ch/fr/suisse/marche-mondiale-vers-gaza-200-suisses-contre-le-genocide-id20907980.html
On June 12, citizens from 37 countries—including 200 from Switzerland—will march towards Gaza. Their goal: to break the blockade and denounce the passivity of states, with Switzerland at the forefront, in the face of what they call a genocide. One of the activists shares why he is participating.Blick
They have arranged to meet in Cairo, Egypt, on June 12, for a Global March to Gaza,. A convoy will take them to El-Arish, a city in the Sinai near the Palestinian enclave’s border. From there, these peaceful marchers will walk the 50 kilometers to the Rafah border crossing. The three-day march will occur at dawn and in the evening—temperatures in the region can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius—to make their voices heard against the deafening silence and inaction of governments.Blick
The objective? To secure the opening of the Rafah terminal by negotiating with Egyptian authorities, allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza in coordination with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) present on the ground.Blick
Children Dying of Hunger
After two and a half months of a total blockade imposed by Israel on all goods destined for this already devastated territory, humanitarian aid has tentatively resumed last week under international pressure. Only a few trucks have entered… “A drop in the ocean compared to the torrent of aid needed,” denounced UN Secretary-General António Guterres at a press conference in New York.Blick
“It is extremely shocking to witness the inaction of our authorities.”
— Samuel Crettenand, Swiss delegate and spokesperson for the “Global March to Gaza,“Blick
Facing the imminent risk of widespread famine, children already dying of hunger, and relentless bombings killing civilians, an international movement, the “Global March to Gaza,” has emerged. This citizen collective claims to be apolitical, pacifist, and independent. No partisan affiliation, ideology, or religion—just a shared determination not to remain idle.Blick
“We no longer know what to do to stop the ongoing genocide,” says Samuel Crettenand, Swiss delegate and spokesperson for the movement, over the phone. This pacifist activist, well-known in French-speaking Switzerland, asserts that he has tried everything to alert public opinion and prompt Swiss authorities to act.Blick
“I went on a 40-day hunger strike, sent letters containing foul-smelling black powder to Swiss parliamentarians, shaved my head in tribute to the victims in front of the Federal Court in Lausanne. I confronted Ignazio Cassis, reminding him that he is complicit in genocide. By all means, we try to remind people that a genocide is unfolding before our eyes,” he says, adding, “It is extremely shocking to witness the inaction of our authorities. We could no longer remain inert: we had to take action.”Blick
37 Countries Expected
National committees have been established in 37 countries. “We hope for even more; the movement is growing day by day. Over a thousand people will travel to Cairo, including nearly 200 from Switzerland,” says Samuel Crettenand. The journey is entirely self-funded by participants, as well as through an online fundraiser launched on the Happy Pot platform. “A beautiful wave of solidarity has emerged,” notes the activist. “People who cannot make the trip are contributing to fund those who can.”Blick
“In a few years, no one will be able to say they didn’t know what was happening…”
— Samuel Crettenand, Swiss delegate and spokesperson for the “Global March to Gaza,“Blick
What is the aim of this international mobilization? “We want food and medical aid to be delivered through a humanitarian corridor. But it’s also about putting pressure on our own governments. In a few years, no one will be able to say they didn’t know what was happening…”Blick
Samuel Crettenand emphasizes the scale the movement has reached: “We are over 20,000 communicating via our Telegram channels. More than 300 NGOs worldwide support us. And when we see the energy deployed to block our website, hack our data, infiltrate our groups, or discredit us, we realize that the movement is causing a stir. It could well contribute to further isolating the Israeli authorities in the face of the genocide they are committing.”Blick