Activists to March to Rafah in “Global March for Gaza” to Draw Attention to the Situation in Gaza
Activists and healthcare professionals from 31 countries around the world will march to the Rafah border crossing as part of a demonstration called the “Global March for Gaza”, aiming to draw attention to the situation in Gaza, which is under intense Israeli attacks and blockade.
By: Mohammed Iqbal Arslan
Geneva
Working as a physician in Turkey and a member of the International Health Initiative, Dr. Hüseyin Durmaz gave an interview to the correspondent of Anadolu Agency (AA).
Recalling that the Israeli attacks on Gaza have continued since October 2023, Durmaz emphasized that the population of Gaza is undergoing a “very violent genocide,” especially since the month of Ramadan.
Durmaz stated:
“We are currently facing very serious health and humanitarian issues, with humanitarian and medical aid being completely blocked. During this period, international institutions and governments have not done what they were supposed to do. The United Nations (UN) and other institutions have unfortunately failed to enforce the principle of not obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza—even in times of war.”
He stated:
“This time, we will march to the Rafah border crossing to remind international institutions of their responsibilities and to pressure them to end the situation in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid in. We have united with more than 150 NGOs and activists from 31 countries and formed an international coalition.”
Durmaz emphasized that this coalition has no affiliation with any political party or religious ideology, and is purely humanitarian, bringing together people from all backgrounds and beliefs under one banner.
“We Will March for 3 Days to the Rafah Border”
Durmaz explained:
“We will gather in Egypt on June 12, proceed to El-Arish on June 13, and march for three days to the Rafah border crossing. During these three days, we will also hold tent protests. We will make our voices heard from Rafah on June 15 and 16. As we have already announced, June 15 is the date of the main rally and protest. However, the full program will start on June 12 and is expected to end on June 20.”
Durmaz said they had meetings with Egyptian authorities at the embassy level and sent official letters, but had not yet received a formal response.
He continued:
“Whether we receive a positive or negative response, we are all determined to act, because the level of violence has become unacceptable. We passed the so-called red line a long time ago. We owe this to the people of Gaza.”
Durmaz noted that they have clearly explained the peaceful and civil nature of their action to the Egyptian authorities and are awaiting authorization.
He added:
“Even if we don’t get official permission, we will still gather at Cairo Airport on June 12.”
He affirmed that they plan to reach Rafah on June 15, stay in tents until June 20, and organize various protests to ensure the world hears their call.
Participation from Turkey
Durmaz noted:
“Many Turkish NGOs and activists are showing interest in this march. A registration form is now available, and there is a Telegram group collecting applications. We are planning to limit participation from Turkey to 150 people. We are prioritizing quality and purpose over quantity, as the march will already attract a large number of people from other countries.”
He concluded by stating that there is no strict upper limit on the number of participants expected, and they anticipate between 2,500 and 3,000 activists to join the action.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/aktivistler-gazzedeki-duruma-dikkati-cekmek-icin-kuresel-gazze-yuruyusu-eylemiyle-refaha-gidecek/3577115#
watch video sur X: https://x.com/anadoluajansi/status/1925877746871210106?s=48&t=HYTCI0BrMIylf_gTf16QaQ