In Tunisia, football stadiums have long served as more than just sporting arenas—they have been powerful spaces of political expression. Today, that tradition continues, as Tunisian ultras lend their support to a civilian-led mission aimed at breaking the siege on Gaza.
Last week, the Bad Blue Boys Juniors, an ultras group loyal to Espérance Sportive de Tunis (ES Tunis), issued a statement backing the “Somoud convoy,” a grassroots initiative organised by the Coordination for Joint Action for Palestine. Set to depart Tunisia on 9 June, the convoy plans to travel through Libya and Egypt in an ambitious attempt to reach Gaza.
“We urge all sports fans, especially ultras groups, and anyone whose heart still beats with a conscience to join this initiative and work for its success,” the group wrote on 29 May. “Don’t just be spectators. Be part of the action. Gaza doesn’t need pity; it needs real positions.”
The same day, Leaders Clubistes, affiliated with Club Africain’s ultras, echoed the call, urging fans to volunteer. “When the world falls silent, the crowds must scream… and when rulers betray, the people remain an unbreakable weapon,” their message read.
Solidarity with Palestine has long been a pillar of Tunisian fan culture. The chant, “Take us to Palestine, to fight the Zionists,” is believed to have originated in Tunisia before spreading across North African pro-Palestinian protests.
Support for the convoy is also growing beyond Tunisia. Ultras Teha Boys, supporters of Tripoli’s Al-Ahly football club in Libya, joined the call in a joint statement with Club Africain’s ultras. So far, the convoy organisers say they have received over 7,000 volunteer applications, which will be filtered based on age, health, and logistics.
Major Tunisian unions—representing workers, doctors, farmers, and football ultras—have also backed the campaign, named The Shackle Must Be Broken, a slogan rooted in the spirit of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution.
Wael Naouar, a convoy spokesperson and pro-Palestine activist, acknowledged the mission’s risks but remained resolute. “We don’t believe in the impossible,” he said.
Organisers have moved the convoy’s departure date forward to 9 June to align with the Freedom Flotilla, another international effort to break the Gaza blockade. The flotilla, which set sail from Europe on Sunday, includes climate activist Greta Thunberg, French-Palestinian advocate Rima Hassan, and 10 others aboard the Madleen ship. Both groups have expressed concern about possible Israeli intervention.
In early May, the Conscience—another Flotilla vessel—was attacked by two Israeli drones while in international waters near Malta. “The only way to guarantee the success of this mission, and our safety, is through public mobilisation and global awareness,” said Rima Hassan before departure.
Meanwhile, Gaza continues to suffer under extreme humanitarian conditions. After nearly three months of total blockade, Israel has allowed limited aid to enter under pressure from Western governments and aid organisations. However, the United Nations has warned that Gaza remains “the hungriest place on Earth,” with famine threatening the entire population. Civilians, the UN says, are being shot, starved, and displaced.
In response, the international convoys aim not only to deliver aid but to amplify global attention on what they describe as an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.
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