Egypt Detains Over 200 Activists Planning Gaza Border March

Egyptian authorities have detained more than 200 pro-Palestinian activists in Cairo ahead of the Global March to Gaza, an international protest aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade and demanding humanitarian aid entry into Gaza. The detainees include nationals from multiple countries, such as the United States, Australia, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, the Netherlands, and others, with some activists held at Cairo airport for extended periods and others questioned or released after police confiscated phones and searched belongings. Thousands of activists from over 40 countries planned to travel by bus to El-Arish in Sinai before marching 50 kilometers to Gaza’s Rafah crossing to set up a protest camp; a separate convoy also departed Tunisia aiming to reach Gaza. Israel’s defense minister labeled the protesters as “jihadi” and urged Egypt to prevent them from reaching the border, warning that the Israeli military would act to stop any incursion. Egypt supports ending the blockade but requires official approval for foreign groups to access the border area, and has yet to grant permission for the march. Organizers expressed a desire to work with the Egyptian government, emphasizing shared goals of ending the Palestinian crisis, despite the tense situation and continued detentions.