Egypt Cracks Down On Global Gaza March Participants Across Multiple Countries

The Global March to Gaza, a large international solidarity protest aimed at breaking Israel's Gaza blockade, has been significantly disrupted by Egyptian authorities who detained, deported, and blocked hundreds of participants en route to the Rafah border crossing. Reports detail violent confrontations at checkpoints near Ismailia, Egypt, involving security forces and plainclothes individuals assaulting protesters and confiscating passports from activists from multiple countries, including Ireland, Turkey, France, Spain, Canada, and the UK. Separate from Egypt, a convoy of over 1,000 pro-Palestinian activists traveling from Tunisia to Libya was also blocked and besieged by eastern Libyan authorities loyal to Khalifa Haftar, forcing the group to retreat to Misrata under the UN-recognized government. Organizers condemned the arrests and assaults, calling for the immediate release of detained participants and urging diplomatic intervention. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand has specifically called on its government to ensure the safety of its citizens involved in the march amid escalating risks and Israeli aggression against humanitarian convoys. Despite these setbacks and increasing violence, organizers remain committed to continuing the mission to Gaza’s border to challenge the blockade and highlight the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.