Egyptian authorities on Friday detained or deported dozens of foreign nationals attempting to join a pro-Palestinian march toward the Gaza border, organizers and security sources said.
Hundreds of activists from around the world have gathered in Egypt this week for the Global March to Gaza, a campaign aimed at pressuring Israel to lift its blockade of the enclave. Participants from more than 80 countries were expected to march to the Rafah border crossing, organizers said.
But Egyptian security forces halted the effort, detaining groups at checkpoints and deporting others from airports. At least 88 people have been detained or removed from the country, according to security sources.
At Cairo International Airport, authorities imposed new entry rules requiring travelers arriving between June 12 and 16 to show confirmed return tickets. Airport officials said at least 73 foreign nationals were deported to Istanbul on Thursday, with about 100 more awaiting removal.
Organizers said sit-ins had begun at two locations along the road to Rafah, and police were reportedly forcing non-Egyptians off buses around 30 kilometers from Ismailia, a city near the Sinai Peninsula.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has emphasized that any travel to the border area must be coordinated in advance through official channels to ensure security.
Israel’s defense minister warned earlier this week that the march posed a threat to regional security and instructed Israeli forces to block any entry into Gaza via Egypt.
