Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, have launched a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to “break the siege” on the Palestinian territory, AFP reports quoting activists.

Organisers said the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid into Gaza, but rather aimed at carrying out a “symbolic act” by breaking the blockade on the territory described by the United Nations as “the hungriest place on Earth”.

The “Soumoud” convoy, meaning “steadfastness” in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to arrive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, “by the end of the week”, activist Jawaher Channa told AFP.

It is set to pass through Libya and Egypt, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits, she added.

“We are about a thousand people, and we will have more join us along the way,” said Channa, spokeswoman of the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, the group organising the caravan. “Egypt has not yet given us permission to cross its borders, but we will see what happens when we get there.”

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