Iranian Activists Support the Global ‘March to Gaza’

Dozens of independent Iranian activists—including workers, teachers, political prisoners, environmentalists, and children’s rights defenders—have released an open letter supporting the global “March to Gaza.” Many of these signatories are currently imprisoned in Iran for their peaceful activism. Their statement is both a condemnation of Israel’s war on Gaza and a call to action for global solidarity.

The statement begins by denouncing what the activists call the ongoing genocide in Gaza, carried out by the Israeli military with the backing of the United States, European powers, and complicit regional states. They also criticize the silence and hypocrisy of international institutions that have failed to act.

They describe the “March to Gaza”—which started on June 12 from Cairo and is moving toward the Rafah crossing—as a grassroots initiative coming from workers’ and progressive movements across the region. Thousands have already joined from Tunisia and other countries, demanding an end to the siege of Gaza.

Full Support for a Just Cause

The signatories fully support this global campaign. They emphasize that this march is legitimate, necessary, and a popular act of resistance aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade and stopping the mass killing of Palestinians.

They strongly condemn the Israeli military’s actions, pointing to the killing of more than 55,000 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 20 months. They reject all justifications for such violence, including the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which they describe as a reactionary force that cannot excuse Israel’s systematic destruction. The activists define Israel’s campaign not as a war but as a calculated assault aimed at depopulating and destroying Gaza for geopolitical gain.

They further argue that the Gaza blockade is not just a local issue but part of a broader capitalist world order. It is supported by states and corporations that profit from occupation and apartheid. In their words, the siege is a crime backed by global powers, not just a military decision.

Resistance Must Be Independent

Importantly, the Iranian activists reject any attempt by authoritarian or reactionary forces to co-opt the Palestinian cause. They call for complete independence of popular and workers’ movements from all governments, including those that pretend to support Palestine for their own benefit. They view the march as a movement of the people, not of states or political elites.

They stress the need to strengthen anti-war, progressive, and liberation struggles across the region. The campaign, including its Tunisian arm, is described as independent from both governments and political groups that have hijacked the language of resistance for their own agendas.
Repression of Solidarity

The activists also denounce the Israeli navy’s seizure of the Maddalena, a civilian ship that was attempting to break the siege. They see this as a violent act against peaceful global unity and insist that such efforts must continue and grow.

They declare themselves part of this international movement and demand immediate action:

– Permanent reopening of the Rafah crossing

– Safe distribution of humanitarian aid under UN and civil supervision

– A complete stop to genocide, occupation, siege, and ethnic cleansing

– Full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza

– Immediate reconstruction of Gaza under international oversight

– An end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories

In closing, the statement calls on all individuals, groups, and organizations that believe in freedom and equality to support this campaign in any way they can. This includes signing the statement, organizing strikes, sit-ins, public gatherings, media work, and producing cultural or artistic responses. They urge all people of conscience to loudly reject militarism and domination in the region and around the world.

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