Jerusalem, Undefined – Israel’s defence minister on Wednesday called on Egypt to block two pro-Palestinian activist convoys planning to head to Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
Katz added that such actions “would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed”.
His comments came as hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on a Gaza-bound convoy arrived in the Libyan capital on Wednesday as they drive eastward with the stated aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The Soumoud convoy — meaning steadfastness in Arabic — left Tunis in buses and cars on Monday, hoping to pass through divided Libya and Egypt, which organisers say has yet to provide passage permits, to reach Gaza.
Egypt said on Wednesday that it backs efforts to put “pressure on Israel” to lift its blockade on Gaza, but added that any foreign delegations seeking to visit the border area must receive prior approval through official channels.
Egypt “asserts the importance of putting pressure on Israel to end the blockade on the (Gaza) Strip,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
It added that Egypt “will not consider any requests or respond to any invitations submitted outside the framework defined by the regulatory guidelines and the mechanisms followed in this regard”.
Another activist group, the Global March to Gaza, which is coordinating with Soumoud, said it is organising a separate mobilisation starting in Cairo on Friday.
Organisers told AFP on Wednesday that around 4,000 participants are expected to join the march, adding they were not planning to enter Gaza.
According to the plan, activists would travel by bus to the city of Arish in northern Sinai before walking on foot for 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the Gaza border.
Participants would camp near the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing for a few days and return to Cairo on June 19.
After 20 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies.
The United Nations has said the Palestinian territory was “the hungriest place on Earth”.
