Palestine Convoy held at Iraq border crossing

The international Palestine Convoy, a peaceful civil initiative traveling from Bosnia and Herzegovina through various European countries and Turkey, is currently being held at the Ibrahim Khalil Border Crossing in Iraq. According to Convoy Coordinator Ali Cengiz, the group has been prevented from proceeding since August 12, despite continuous diplomatic communication with Iraqi authorities for two months.

Participants are facing extreme weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius, while waiting to deliver humanitarian aid and solidarity to Gaza. The convoy aims to raise awareness regarding the humanitarian situation in Palestine and the legal implications of occupation policies.

In response to the delay, civil society organizations in Konya, Turkey, held press conferences and sit-ins to demand the opening of the border. Spokesperson Abdurrahim Arslan of the Konya Civil Society Organizations Platform stated that the convoy is seeking a legal and diplomatic solution rather than political conflict. The platform noted that official applications have been submitted to the United Nations, the European Union, and the European Parliament to facilitate the peaceful passage of the convoy.