Egypt Detains Over 200 Activists Over Gaza March
Egypt detains international activists ahead of Global March to Gaza, raising concerns over humanitarian access.
- Publish date: since 2 day
Egyptian authorities detained over 200 pro-Palestinian activists in Cairo, ahead of the Global March to Gaza planned on Friday, June 13.
The global march was organized with the aim to break Israel's blockade on Gaza. It is an international coalition of labor unions, solidarity movements, and human rights organizations from over 50 countries.
Organizers said on Thursday, June 12 that the march would involve thousands of people marching on foot to Egypt's Rafah border with the Palestinian territory to call for increased access to humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
The spokesperson for the march, Saif Abukeshek, told AFP, "Over 200 participants were detained at Cairo airport or questioned at hotels across Cairo."
The detainees are people from Algeria, Australia, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, Spain, and the US.
Abushek also shared that people's phones were confiscated and their personal belonging were searched.
He said, "After interrogations, some were arrested and others were released."
Some detainees were held for hours at the airport in Cairo, while others were deported, but specific numbers are unknown.
Over 20 French activists who arrived in Egypt to join the march were held at the airport for 18 hours.
The Global March to Gaza revealed that several people were being released after diplomatic staff arrived at the airport in Cairo to provide "consular assisstance".
The Global March to Gaza is coordinating with the Tunisian convoy Sumoud, which departed from Tunis on Monday, June 9 to travel to Gaza.
The convoy arrived in Libya on Wednesday, June 11.
According to the Global March to Gaza plan, 4,000 participants from over 40 countries whill travel to El-Arish by bus before walking 50 kilometers towards the border with Gaza.
The participants would then camp at the border and return to Cairo on June 19.
Israel has called on Egypt to prevent this march and Egypt's foreign ministry in response has emphasized their supporst for any efforts to put "pressure on Israel.
The ministry also said that foreign delegations visiting the border area must receive approval through official channels.
Despite this statement, participants of the march were still detained.
Nonetheless, Abueshek said, "We will continue despite what happened because the current numbers in Egypt and those expected to arrive are enough to organise this march".
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