europe takes action

WE RISE

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WE RISE

The Great Ride of Return, the Gaza Sunbirds and Acampada Palestina have come together to call on cities across Europe and the Global to take action and continue the mission of the next set of Flotillas that will set sail to Gaza in the coming weeks!

Together we will expand the great ride to Europe to demand that our politicians and countries stop providing cover for the ongoing violence being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces. Their violence and impunity will stop only when the Israeli occupation is isolated by the international community.

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15-17th may

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The violence of occupation is carried out with weapons, but it is sustained by an environment that allows it to continue without consequence. For decades, European governments and EU institutions have granted Israel privileged economic, political, cultural, and military ties. This exceptional status is unjustifiable and these connections can create a sense of normality around a deeply abnormal reality: Israel has consistently acted in violation of the very principles the EU claims to uphold, human rights, international law, and the right to self-determination.

We call on Europe to cease being a passive observer while these violations persist. Its political inaction has rendered it irrelevant at a moment that demands leadership. Ongoing abuses against Palestinians are a moral failure - and they fuel instability across the entire region. Join us in using our bikes as a tool to reclaim civil space and demand European institutions ending the EU-Israel Association Agreement which funds more than 37% of the genocide. The EU has leverage, and its actions matter. It’s time to use that power—to move from rhetoric to accountability..

how we organise:

Your first step is to register your ride on our website, this lets us know that your ride is happening and lets us advertise it. It also helps us keep track of rides happening internationally. Your first two steps are to:

A. Sign up so that we have your details and create a rider id:

B. Register your ride on our site so we can send you more resources:

Once you've got your ride registered, it's good to try and collaborate with as many local bike groups as possible to bring numbers. Reach out to see who is willing to join your efforts or advertise them to their supporters

Whether you want to bring visibility to the cause or to fundraise for our efforts on the ground, its nice to have Palestinian flags and symbols to show people what we are out for. We have fundraising materials available so you can maximise your fundraising efforts. Let us know if we can be of help.

When you're on your ride make sure to take plenty of photos and videos, and share them on social media platforms to bring visibility to what you're taking part in. This will help us grow our community, as well as allow us to highlight the amazing work you do on the rides.

A. Communicate with local press

B. Organise a community space at your ride

c. Give opportunities to local artists to join in

Join a upcoming ride

Check out the list of upcoming rides beneath here! You can see the time zone and starting location, as well as the organisers instagram handle where more information about rides will be posted!

why we ride?

Every time it seems the line cannot be pushed further, the Israeli Occupation escalates its violence. While global attention has been diverted since the so-called "ceasefire" of October 2025, conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and surrounding regions have quickly deteriorated with casualties increasing every day.

Whether you are an organisation or an individual, we call on you to mobilise with us in a coordinated fashion over the weekend of May 15th - May 17th, 2025 to put public pressure don European institutions to act in the face of increasing violence and the violation of human rights by the occupation. These coordinated 5–10 km rides will be organised locally by broad coalitions, carrying one message and one demand:

Freedom for Palestine.

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frequently asked questions

These are independently organized solidarity events. Anyone—cyclists, families, advocacy groups—can register a ride via the Gaza Sunbirds platform. While registered events receive resources and visibility, the Sunbirds do not plan, host, or take responsibility for individual rides. They do, however, review and approve ride registrations to ensure alignment with the movement’s peaceful, family-friendly ethos before they go live

These rides bring people together on wheels to honour the peaceful Great March of Return and shine a light on mobility, freedom, and dignity. They celebrate the Gaza sunbirds’ journey: para‑athletes who lost limbs yet keep riding, and aid volunteers spreading hope in their communities. By riding, we raise the Palestinian flag, raise our voices for justice, and remind each other that freedom is collective. Our local riders are always encouraged to support local campaigns Every pedal stroke builds global solidarity and shows that small acts of unity can spark lasting change.

Many rides are also fundraisers. riders set up pages on platforms like justgiving to collect donations. these contributions support humanitarian aid—food, hygiene kits, shelter—and para‑cycling gear in Gaza. funds help deliver essentials and empower amputee athletes striving to rebuild their lives.

rides typically range from 5–10 km on flat, safe routes, making them ideal for community participants. they’re open to all wheeled mobility—bikes, wheelchairs, scooters, rollerblades, tandems—with a “no-drop,” low-stress format designed for inclusivity and mutual support.

we strongly encourage organizers to proactively consider accessibility (e.g., clear routes, rest stops, volunteer assistance)—and if you have any questions or specific needs, please contact your local ride organizer directly before the event.

cycling stands at the heart of our story: wheels mean mobility, freedom, resilience, and non‑violent action. by cycling in solidarity, participants echo the Sunbirds—para‑athletes riding through adversity—and share that message of hope globally.

Join a upcoming ride

Check out the list of upcoming rides beneath here! You can see the time zone and starting location, as well as the organisers instagram handle where more information about rides will be posted!

Since 2020 we’ve logged five consecutive years of aid runs, sports programmes, and global campaigns—through war, siege, and displacement. That track record means trusted local networks, refined logistics, and the know-how to keep delivering when larger agencies stall.

Every aid run is filmed end-to-end, from loading the truck to the hand-offs, so supporters can see precisely where their contributions go. We edit and share these clips within days, tagging donors and partners to celebrate our shared achievements and provide transparent, verifiable proof that the work on screen matches the pledges we make.

Getting money into Gaza is hard; maximising its impact is non-negotiable. Our field team scouts prices daily. With local connections and price comparisons, we lock in fair pricing to deliver services to the widest number of people possible.

We are tripple audited by our local partners in Gaza, by our international team and by our International Charity Partners. Our funds are held with AMOS Trust for specific purposes. This means the money you send in for aid gets used for aid, and the money you send in for our other activities are held on the side too. Your money will definitely make it to Gaza, every month we are able to expand on the amount of services we are providing people.

Aid is paired with story. Each food box or water tank we deliver is photographed or filmed with the family’s consent; the 60-second stories that follow have generated 3 million+ views and a wave of repeat donations. By linking needs to human faces, we transform one-off gifts into sustained community support.

Athletes with disabilities aren’t just beneficiaries here—they’re part of our leadership. From programme design to our teams long term vision, people with disabilities help shape every decision, proving that those most affected by violence and exclusion are best placed to drive bold, inclusive solutions.

The Sunbirds are a grassroots collective, led by Palestinians on the ground and in the diaspora. We make decisions close to the communities we serve, cutting out costly bureaucracy and ensuring that resources move quickly from donors to frontline action.

Athletes, team staff, and local volunteers manage every delivery route and training session. Our field team lives inside the camps we serve, so aid lists come from neighbours. Distributed with a team structure, we move faster than large INGOs, intervening to support our community through a diverse range of interventions.

europe takes action

WE RISE