31 Countries Demand Humanitarian Access to Gaza in Cairo

Starting on June 12, participants will arrive in Cairo and proceed to the city of al-Arish the following day. On June 13, they will embark on a roughly 50-kilometer march from al-Arish to the Rafah border. The campaign will feature a series of demonstrations on June 14 in the Sinai region, highlighting the severe health and hunger crises afflicting Gaza. The culmination is scheduled for June 15 at the Rafah border, where organizers aim to engage Egyptian authorities and humanitarian organizations to secure a permanent opening for aid deliveries.

Dr. Huseyin Durmaz, a Turkish physician and member of the International Health Initiative, described Gaza’s health situation as critical due to shortages of medicines, food, and clean water. "Throughout this ordeal, international institutions and governments have fallen short of expectations. This march to the Rafah border is meant to remind them of their humanitarian obligations and pressure them to end the crisis and reopen aid channels," he told Anadolu Agency.

The organizers emphasize that the "Global March to Gaza" is apolitical and independent — unaffiliated with any political party, ideology, or religion. Its sole purpose is to reinstate the humanitarian corridor severed since the ceasefire ended on March 18, 2025, which was followed by a total blockade and intensified Israeli airstrikes. This blockade has led to severe shortages of essential goods and medicines, placing millions of Gaza residents at risk of starvation and infectious disease outbreaks.

Activists believe that peaceful mass demonstrations are the only effective way to exert pressure on international authorities and the Egyptian government to open the border. They have coordinated with NGOs, diplomats, and humanitarian agencies in negotiating access to the Rafah crossing. However, no official statements have been made by Egyptian or Israeli governments regarding formal permits for the marchers to cross into Gaza. While some observers expect Cairo to allow aid convoys limited passage, there is no guarantee that the march participants will be permitted to cross without obstruction.

Regarding funding, the organizers underline that the Global March is a grassroots citizen initiative without significant financial backing. No funds cover participants’ travel costs; each individual is responsible for their logistics, including accommodations and transportation to Cairo. The organizing bodies primarily facilitate communication among NGOs and provide technical guidance on routes and security protocols.

Globally, this campaign follows related initiatives. On June 1, 2025, Greta Thunberg and 11 international activists sailed from Catania, Italy, aboard the vessel Madleen in an attempt to break the maritime blockade on Gaza with medical and food aid, despite risks from drone attacks similar to previous missions. Thus, the land-based Global March complements ongoing international pressures against Israel's blockade policies.

However, concerns exist that the march could provoke confrontations with Egyptian security forces or political tension with Cairo’s government, which maintains diplomatic ties with Israel. To date, Egyptian authorities have not officially authorized the walking march, although they have permitted limited aid convoys to enter Gaza via land routes. Analysts suggest the final outcome of the Global March to Gaza will largely depend on the degree of diplomatic leverage participants and supporting organizations can muster.

Overall, the Global March to Gaza is expected to draw international attention ahead of upcoming visits by high-ranking UN officials and humanitarian agencies assessing conditions within Gaza firsthand. If successful in reaching the Rafah border, this action could strengthen calls for the UN Security Council to adopt new resolutions facilitating effective humanitarian corridors and stopping violence against Gaza’s civilian population. Nevertheless, the movement’s impact awaits concrete responses from international and Egyptian authorities in the coming days.