Forget the viral lies and sensationalism! That famous video circulating on social media claiming that MILLIONS of people headed to Gaza and Egypt opened its borders for humanitarian aid is pure fiction! The real story is very different and far less spectacular. The footage actually shows the welcoming of a humanitarian convoy in the Tunisian city of Gabes on June 9, not a massive movement of millions of people towards Gaza.
The convoy, named “Soumoud” (Steadfastness), was launched by Tunisian civil society organizations aiming to deliver aid to Palestinian civilians. However, this caravan started from Tunisia’s capital, planned to reach the Egyptian border at the Gaza Strip, but was stopped in eastern Libya, in the city of Sirte, controlled by forces of commander Khalifa Haftar. About ten participants were detained, and the rest of the convoy retreated to the Misrata area in western Libya.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly announced that the convoy would not be granted permission to pass through the Rafah crossing without prior approval, which was supported by the authorities of eastern Libya. In such a political and security environment, the organizers announced on June 16 that they were abandoning the journey to the border and returning to Tunisia.
So, claims that the convoy entered Egypt or crossed into Gaza are false. Also, the number of participants was around 1,000, which is many times less than the alleged millions.
This misinformation is just another example of how easily public opinion can be manipulated in crisis situations. Before believing sensational claims, check your sources and facts. And if you have a favorite viral myth or conspiracy theory, feel free to share it in the comments — maybe together we can debunk another lie!
