Libya: "Breaking the Siege on Gaza" Convoy Retreats from the Outskirts of Sirte and Heads to Buqrin, Near Misrata

The Maghreb steadfastness convoy retreated from its position on the outskirts of Sirte on Saturday after days of siege and restrictions, heading to the Buqrin area, west of Sirte and close to the city of Misrata.

This move comes after the failure to reach an agreement allowing the convoy to proceed eastward, the continued blocking of food and medical supplies to the participants, the disruption of communications around the camp, and the prevention of dozens of participants from reaching the main site.

According to sources from the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine, the decision to move was made to preserve the safety of participants and ensure the convoy's continuity in fulfilling its solidarity and humanitarian mission.

The Joint Action Coordination for Palestine accused the eastern region authorities of detaining four bloggers (a Libyan, a Tunisian, and two Algerians) participating in the Steadfastness Convoy, without allowing them access to lawyers or their families, calling for their immediate release.

The Coordination Committee also confirmed in a statement that the convoy was subjected to a comprehensive siege on the outskirts of Sirte, which included isolation from the outside world, disruption of communications and internet networks, and the denial of access to water, food, and medicine, despite official promises to provide them.

The statement added that "regional authorities prevented members of the organizing committee from bringing in essential supplies and prevented more than 50 participants from joining the camp, resulting in the convoy being divided into three separate groups without communication between them."

Despite a meeting between representatives of the convoy and a government delegation headed by Libyan Foreign Minister Abdul Hadi al-Huwaij, the talks yielded no practical results, amid the convoy's insistence on continuing its journey to the Rafah crossing to support Gaza and reject the blockade imposed on it.