Cairo: Pro-Palestinian activists aiming to march to Gaza in an effort to break Israel’s blockade on the territory were stopped on Friday in both Libya and Egypt, according to organizers. Forty participants of the Global March to Gaza had their passports confiscated at a checkpoint while departing Cairo, organizers reported in a statement. These individuals are reportedly being held in the heat without permission to move, with an additional 15 being detained at hotels.
According to Nam News Network, video footage later emerged showing Egyptian security forces intervening to disperse impromptu sit-ins. Disturbingly, the footage depicted women being mistreated and forcibly carried onto buses, as shared by Florence Heskia, one of the protesters stranded en route. Another activist, Nadia, disclosed that their passports were seized, and they are being coerced to board buses destined for the airport for deportation.
The Global March to Gaza had previously announced that approximately 4,000 participants from over 4
0 countries would convene in Cairo on Friday, intending to proceed to the war-torn Palestinian territory. Their plan included traveling by bus to El-Arish in the heavily fortified Sinai Peninsula, followed by a 50-kilometer walk to the Gaza border. The group planned to camp there before returning to Cairo on June 19.
Separately, the Soumoud convoy, meaning ‘steadfastness’ in Arabic, which originated in Tunisia, was halted on Friday morning at the entrance to the Libyan city of Sirte, under the control of military leader Khalifa Haftar. Tunisian organizer Wael Naouar shared in a Facebook video that the convoy, comprising around a thousand activists from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania, required authorization from Egyptian authorities to proceed to Gaza. Naouar noted the uncertainty surrounding their passage, with conflicting reports from security officials regarding Egypt’s stance on their entry.
Amid heavy security presence, one individual was arrested in central Cairo on Friday as activists attem
pted to gather. On Thursday, the Global March to Gaza organizers revealed that Egyptian authorities had detained over 200 activists in Cairo, with some being deported and others released. Hichem Al Ghaoui, a Global March coordinator, expressed surprise at the level of violence encountered, detailing the arrests, deportations, and threats faced by participants.
On Wednesday, Egypt’s foreign ministry stated its support for efforts to pressure Israel but emphasized that any delegations visiting the border area must secure approval through official channels.