Egypt deports and detains dozens of activists participating in march to Gaza in bid to end Israeli blockade

12 June 2025, 20:00 | Updated: 12 June 2025, 21:14

Egypt has detained and deported dozens of activists who landed in Cairo to participate in the ‘Global March to Gaza’, heading to the Gaza border to end Israel’s aid blockade.

Thousands of activists descended on Cairo on Thursday to participate in the ‘Global March to Gaza,’ a peaceful march to the Israeli-controlled Rafah crossing at Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Around 4,000 people from over 80 countries are expected to join the march, according to organisers, though some estimates place the number much higher.

The group will be joined by another convoy of around 2,000 people from a number of North African countries, coming from Tunisia.

From Cairo, they will board buses to the city of Arish, before marching 30 miles through the Sinai desert, sleeping in tents along the way.

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The march plans to arrive at the border with Gaza on Friday in a ‘symbolic act’, highlighting Israel’s 18-year siege on the territory.

The protesters aim to pressure Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, which has exacerbated what was already a humanitarian emergency in the territory.

But while organisers say they have liaised with the Egyptian authorities to ensure all participants in the march have the proper permits, Egyptian authorities have detained and deported dozens of protesters.

More than 200 people have been detained and questioned by the Egyptian authorities. Many are held in hotels or airports, while dozens have already been deported, according to local media reports.

Organisers say 40 Algerian nationals were deported, 12 Moroccans, 10 Norwegians, 6 Germans, and 1 from the UK, among others.

“We urge the Egyptian authorities to release all detained individuals and allow the entrance of march participants, which is in line with Egypt’s own stated interest in seeing an end to the blockade and restoring stability at its border,” a statement from the organisers said.

They added: “Egypt has repeatedly expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the unsustainable conditions at the Rafah crossing. Supporting this global, peaceful movement would reinforce Egypt's position as a key actor in pushing for humanitarian access.

“The Global March to Gaza has united thousands of people from over 80 countries, and inspired millions more around the world, through a shared commitment to humanity. This is an urgent, moral response to the forced starvation, bombing, and suffering of over two million people at the hands of the Israeli government.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz urged Egypt to block the marchers, which he called “jihadist protesters,” from reaching the Palestinian territory.

He said they “would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed,” adding that the IDF would intervene if the marchers did reach the border crossing.

It comes just days after another initiative to highlight and attempt to break Israel’s blockade, the British-flagged flotilla Madleen, with 12 activists including Greta Thunberg on board.

The boat, which was meant to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and deliver aid to civilians in the territory, was intercepted by the Israeli military.

The activists on board were detained and interrogated after ‘illegally entering’ Israel, which they deny, claiming they were ‘kidnapped’ in international waters.

Some, including Thunberg, have agreed to be deported from Israel, while others, including French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, are still held in an Israeli prison.

While Israel lifted its total blockade on Gaza which lasted nearly three months, the amount of aid they are currently allowing in is well below what the territory was receiving before, and has been described as a ‘teaspoon’ of what is required by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Israel has also been criticised for its method of delivering aid, after banning established distribution organisations and setting up a new system mostly staffed by US contractors.

This new organisation, GHF, has been marred in controversy as it aims to deliver aid in heavily militarised central hubs, which are often overrun by desperate Palestinians.

More than 160 Palestinians have been killed at these distribution sites, as Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on the masses that gathered at the sites to receive food.