Latest news with #EgyptianAuthorities
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Shocking moment Gaza aid activists are dragged away by masked men as Egypt deports volunteers attempting to cross border
Gaza aid activists were violently dragged and carried onto buses by balaclava-clad Egyptian authorities. Footage shows authorities forcibly removing protesters from a sit-down demonstration at the Cairo border. Large numbers of protesters were rounded-up onto buses and will be deported. One protester, who spoke with an American accent, exclaimed: 'There's people in masks dragging people out.' While others can be heard chanting: 'Free Palestine '. Thousands of people have been arriving in the Egyptian capital since Thursday, with the intention of marching to the Rafah crossing in Gaza. It is part of the Global March to Gaza - a protest against Israel 's aid blockade on Gaza. Israel imposed a full 11-week humanitarian blockade on Gaza on March 2, cutting off food, medical supplies and other aid amid its ongoing conflict with the enclave. Around 4,000 volunteers landed in Cairo, then taking buses to the city of Arish in the north of the country's Sinai Peninsula. From there, they hoped to start their planned march, on a roughly 30-mile route, to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza border. But organisers said that several dozen activists were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, which is around a three-hour drive from Arish. A protester posted a video to social media while on a bus heading there, saying: 'This is an emergency. 'We have just been violently dragged into the buses here at the first checkpoint on the way to Ismailia. 'We were sitting quietly and not doing anything. We were debating that we would leave soon, in taxis back to Cairo because we did not break any law. 'And all of a sudden, several people stormed in and they started to push people and drag them violently outside. 'They have beaten people. I have seen one woman that was beaten in her face in front of me. They didn't leave time to grab the luggage or anything. 'So, this is one of the Secret Service people that was just walking in here. I have to stop this livestream now - we are in danger. This is an emergency. We need to help.' Most of the activists were ordered onto buses back to the capital after several hours of questioning - but some remain in custody. 'We were blocked for six to seven hours before security forces violently dispersed our group,' one organiser said. At least one activist was expelled from Egypt, several sources said, adding to dozens more denied entry or expelled in the run-up to the march. Egyptian authorities have not commented on the reported expulsions. The foreign ministry had warned that while Egypt backs efforts to put 'pressure on Israel' to lift its Gaza blockade, any foreign delegations intending to visit the border area must obtain prior permission. Uzma Usmani, the sponsorship and logistics lead for the UK delegation of the march, explained to CNN: 'This is just another tool, another way [for] the people to raise their voices, to let governments know that we are not happy. 'We need to take things into our own hands, to raise awareness, to put pressure on all the different governments so that they start taking action.' But in a statement on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said allowing the activists through the border would 'endanger the security of IDF soldiers'. He added he expected Egypt 'to prevent the arrival of jihadist demonstrators to the border of Egypt-Israel and not to allow them to carry out provocations and to try to enter into Gaza'. Egypt is in an awkward position in the Israel-Palestine conflict, as a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, also trying to prevent conflict spilling into its own territory. It is also attempting to balance its ties with Israel and the United States with its own public condemnation of the war's brutal civilian impact on Gaza. The Global March to Gaza action comes just days after Israel intercepted Madleen, an aid ship bound for Gaza carrying activist Greta Thunberg on board. Thunberg, 22, was among 12 activists on board the ship, which hoped to 'break [Israel's] siege on the Gaza Strip' with a delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel 'forcibly intercepted' the British-flagged vessel at 3.02am local time on June 9, some 100 miles from the coast of Gaza, the FFC said in a statement. After diverting the boat to the port of Ashdod, Israel's foreign ministry posted a picture of the activists all in orange life jackets being offered water and sandwiches. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the crew were safe and unharmed, and would be taken to the Israeli Port of Ashdod where they would be shown a video of Hamas's October 7 atrocities. Of the 12 people on board the Madleen carrying food and supplies for Gaza, eight were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily. Four others, including Thunberg, were deported.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Phone and passport confiscated in Egypt from Irish politician marching to Gaza
An Irish politician has had his phone and passport confiscated by Egyptian authorities while on a march to Gaza. Paul Murphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, was among a large group of people attempting to reach the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. A party spokesman said he and others have been forced onto buses and it is believed they are being taken to Cairo for deportation. Mr Murphy flew to Cairo on Thursday and set off towards Gaza on Friday. Prior to his phone being taken, he said in a social media post: 'We have had our passports confiscated and are being detained. 'It seems Egyptian authorities have decided to crack down on the #GreatMarchToGaza.' Mr Murphy said his passport had been confiscated by the Egyptian army, along with the passports of other people in the group who were stopped. He said those being detained were being asked to board a bus and he believed they were going to be deported. He added: 'We are refusing to board the deportation bus.' Mr Murphy told the PA news agency that several other Irish citizens were among those who have been stopped. In a video, he said: 'It's looking worrying that the Egyptian authorities are going to act to prevent our peaceful march to Gaza, to demand that Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid, of food, of water, of medical supplies, is ended. 'I'm just asking people to redouble their efforts, to get on to your own Government, in Ireland's case get on to (Foreign Affairs Minister) Simon Harris, your local TD, ask them to pressurise the Egyptian regime to allow us to engage in our peaceful march.' He added: 'The world has watched a horrific genocide for the past 20 months. Since March, a total attempt of starvation. 'And that this a peaceful march to demand that it be ended and demand that western governments stop their complicity.' Mr Murphy also posted a livestream video on X in which Egyptian authorities could be seen forcibly dragging some of the participants away from a sit-down protest. The livestream abruptly ended after his phone was taken, a People Before Profit spokesman said, adding that the party is no longer able to contact him. A post by an administrator on his X account says: 'We urgently need Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to intervene, demand he is freed, his passport and phone returned and the protesters are allowed to peacefully march to Gaza.' People Before Profit national secretary Matt Collins said: 'The Irish government must contact the Egyptian authorities to demand the release of Paul and the others who have been detained. 'They are travelling to join a peaceful march to demand that humanitarian aid is delivered to starving people in Gaza. There is no reason for them to be detained or deported. 'We also call on the public to contact the Egyptian embassy to demand that people on the Global March to Gaza are allowed to travel unhindered'. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said it was 'closely monitoring the situation' along with its embassy in Egypt. 'Embassy officials are engaging with the relevant local authorities and are in contact with EU and other partners regarding the situation. 'The department is in contact with a number of citizens and is providing advice and guidance. 'As set out in our travel advice, the vicinity of the Rafah border crossing is particularly dangerous at the moment and the border crossing is currently closed.'
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Phone and passport confiscated from Irish politician marching in Egypt to Gaza
An Irish politician has had his phone and passport confiscated by Egyptian authorities while on a march to Gaza. Paul Murphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, was among a large group of people attempting to reach the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. A party spokesman said he and others have been forced onto buses and it is believed they are being taken to Cairo for deportation. Mr Murphy flew to Cairo on Thursday and set off towards Gaza on Friday. Prior to his phone being taken, he said in a social media post: 'We have had our passports confiscated and are being detained. 'It seems Egyptian authorities have decided to crack down on the #GreatMarchToGaza.' Mr Murphy said his passport had been confiscated by the Egyptian army, along with the passports of other people in the group who were stopped. He said those being detained were being asked to board a bus and he believed they were going to be deported. He added: 'We are refusing to board the deportation bus.' Mr Murphy told the PA news agency that several other Irish citizens were among those who have been stopped. In a video, he said: 'It's looking worrying that the Egyptian authorities are going to act to prevent our peaceful march to Gaza, to demand that Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid, of food, of water, of medical supplies, is ended. 'I'm just asking people to redouble their efforts, to get on to your own Government, in Ireland's case get on to (Foreign Affairs Minister) Simon Harris, your local TD, ask them to pressurise the Egyptian regime to allow us to engage in our peaceful march.' He added: 'The world has watched a horrific genocide for the past 20 months. Since March, a total attempt of starvation. 'And that this a peaceful march to demand that it be ended and demand that western governments stop their complicity.' Mr Murphy also posted a livestream video on X in which Egyptian authorities could be seen forcibly dragging some of the participants away from a sit-down protest. The livestream abruptly ended after his phone was taken, a People Before Profit spokesman said, adding that the party is no longer able to contact him. A post by an administrator on his X account says: 'We urgently need Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to intervene, demand he is freed, his passport and phone returned and the protesters are allowed to peacefully march to Gaza.' People Before Profit national secretary Matt Collins said: 'The Irish government must contact the Egyptian authorities to demand the release of Paul and the others who have been detained. 'They are travelling to join a peaceful march to demand that humanitarian aid is delivered to starving people in Gaza. There is no reason for them to be detained or deported. 'We also call on the public to contact the Egyptian embassy to demand that people on the Global March to Gaza are allowed to travel unhindered'.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Egypt Deports Dozens More Foreign Nationals Heading for March to Gaza
Egyptian authorities on Friday detained or deported more foreign nationals seeking to join a pro-Palestinian march to Gaza. Hundreds of international activists arrived in Egypt this week for the Global March to Gaza, an initiative aimed at pressuring Israel to end its blockade of the enclave. Organizers said on Thursday people from 80 countries were set to begin the march to Egypt's Rafah Crossing with Gaza. Egypt's Foreign Ministry has said visits to the Rafah border region must be coordinated in advance with Egyptian embassies or government entities and underlined the need to follow official procedures to ensure safety and security. Organizers say they coordinated with Egyptian authorities and have urged the government to release those detained. Groups of foreign participants were being held at checkpoints, and sit-ins had begun at two locations on the road leading to the Rafah crossing, organizers said. They said police were stopping vehicles about 30 km (20 miles) from Ismailia, close to the Sinai peninsula, en route to Rafah, nearly 300 km away. Police were forcing passengers with non-Egyptian passports to disembark, they said. Security sources confirmed that at least 88 individuals had been detained or deported from Cairo airport and other locations. Officials at Cairo International Airport said new directives were issued to airlines requiring all passengers travelling to Egypt between June 12 and 16 to hold confirmed return tickets. Three airport sources told Reuters on Thursday at least 73 foreign nationals had been deported on a flight to Istanbul after authorities said they violated entry protocols, and that about 100 more were at the airport awaiting deportation. Israel's defense minister told the Israeli military on Wednesday to prevent demonstrators entering Gaza from Egypt, and said the march was a threat to Israeli and regional security.
The National
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Activists detained and deported as symbolic Global March to Gaza stalls in Egypt
More than 148 activists who arrived in Egypt to take part in the Global March to Gaza on Wednesday and Thursday were detained, questioned and deported after the country's authorities said they did not have permission to cross Egyptian territory en route to the enclave, security officials told The National. However, organisers of the global march said they still planned to converge on Egypt 's capital on Thursday, undeterred by warnings as activists from various countries continued to arrive. The movement, known as Masirat Al Ahrar, or the March of the Free, has brought together activists from 54 countries taking part in a symbolic trip demanding an end to Israel 's blockade on Gaza. They were planning to meet in Cairo and travel to Egypt's Rafah border crossing with the Palestinian territory by Monday. But officials in Cairo said on Wednesday night that such marches across Egyptian territory would require approval and adherence to strict protocol. The Foreign Ministry said while Egypt supports Palestinian activism, foreign visitors planning to travel to sensitive areas, such as the Rafah border, must first have proper permission. The ministry also highlighted the need to comply with Egypt's national security regulations, mentioning the precarious situation in the Sinai Peninsula, which has been plagued by an extremist insurgency. Authorities said organisers had not gone through the proper channels to obtain permits, either through direct communication with Egyptian embassies in their homelands or their countries' embassies in Egypt. It said no request made outside the state framework would be approved. Participants include delegations from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, including a separate convoy of about 1,500 people travelling from Algeria, Tunisia and Libya known as Qafelat Al Somood, or the Convoy of Steadfastness. Those taking part include activists, journalists and humanitarians. They had planned to gather in Cairo before making their way to the Sinai city of Al Arish by bus and march the 50km from there to the Rafah crossing. But Egyptian authorities have already detained and deported dozens of foreign travellers suspected of planning to join, according to a notice posted by the organisers on social media. Security officials told The National that 79 of the 148 detained on Thursday were apprehended at Cairo International Airport, the rest were arrested at hotels in central Cairo. They described chaotic scenes at the airport, with activists and policemen engaged in shouting matches in which the activists insulted the Egyptian government for not allowing the march to take place. Some of those detained were questioned by police before their deportation, the officials said. On Wednesday, at least 15 Moroccans were deported after being interrogated for up to 30 minutes at the airport, the organisers said. Reports also surfaced of hotel raids in central Cairo, with several activists arrested. One organiser told news agency AFP that more than 200 foreign citizens had been detained at the airport since Wednesday. They said a legal team representing the march was working on the release of would-be participants that are still in custody in Egypt. Another told The National on Thursday that the situation in Egypt's capital had 'intensified' and they would not be speaking to media on the record until the situation calmed down. However, many participants remained determined. Activists were boarding planes bound for Egypt on Wednesday and Thursday, including from Poland and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Qafelat Al Somood is making its way overland towards Egypt. The convoy, which includes 20 buses and 350 cars, began its journey in Algeria earlier this month, travelling through Tunisia and into western Libya. It was warmly welcomed in areas controlled by western Libya's Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Mr Dbeibah announced his official support for the initiative, describing it as a reflection of Arab solidarity. 'The participation of Libyans in this humanitarian convoy embodies the values of loyalty and solidarity that distinguish the Libyan people,' he said. The convoy is expected to continue through Tripoli and Misurata before attempting to cross into eastern Libya, which is controlled by Gen Khalifa Haftar. Gen Haftar's government, closely aligned with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, has not yet granted clearance. The ultimate goal is to reach the Rafah border crossing by Sunday, joining the broader Global March to Gaza. Israel is under immense international pressure over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 55,100 Palestinian civilians have been killed since the war began in October 2023. Israel's blockade on Gaza, described by human rights groups as a form of collective punishment, has compounded the widespread suffering, leaving millions of Gazans without access to basic necessities. While Egypt has long positioned itself as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its handling of the Global March to Gaza has drawn criticism from activists and humanitarians, both inside Egypt and internationally. The government's insistence on strict protocol and its deportation of participants are being framed by critics as complicity in Israel's war. The Global March to Gaza is part of a wider wave of international solidarity campaigns. The Madleen, a humanitarian aid ship organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was this month intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters. The vessel was carrying a small amount of food and medical supplies for Gaza.
