• More than 200 activists detained in Egypt ahead of a pro-Palestinian march to Gaza.
• Participants aim to pressure Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza.
• Authorities have deported several activists, including nationals from various countries.
• Organisers emphasize compliance with Egyptian law and seek assistance for detained members.
• The Global March to Gaza includes around 4,000 activists from over 40 countries.

Egyptian authorities have detained over 200 pro-Palestinian activists in Cairo, aiming to stifle an international march called the Global March to Gaza, which seeks to break Israel's blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. The spokesperson for the march, Saif Abukeshek, reported that participants were detained at Cairo's airport and questioned in hotels, with those affected including nationals from the United States, Australia, France, and Morocco. Many detainees were reportedly held for extended periods without clear reason and subjected to searches and confiscations of personal items, according to IndiaTimes, Middle East Eye, and Dawn.

During the lead-up to the march, reports highlighted that police in plainclothes visited hotels in Cairo, looking for specific individuals based on prior intelligence. This preemptive measure further sparked concerns about civil liberties as many activists were questioned and deprived of communication devices, as noted by the Reuters and TRT Global. Additionally, footage emerged showing detained individuals crammed in holding areas at the airport.

Activists had planned to journey from Cairo to the Rafah border crossing within a bold campaign to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been continuously under siege. The march organizers expressed intentions to create "international moral and media pressure" on Israeli authorities to enable the flow of essential supplies into Gaza, which remains one of the most impoverished regions globally, related to statements featured in Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera (2).

Reports indicated that Egyptian officials have deported dozens of activists back to their home countries, with recent counts suggesting at least 73 foreign nationals were sent home via Istanbul. Importantly, the Egyptian government has emphasized that any international efforts to travel to the Rafah border should be pre-approved to ensure national security, as highlighted by Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera (3).

In light of these tumultuous occurrences, the Global March to Gaza organizers have reiterated their commitment to pressing ahead with their plans. They have submitted requests for cooperation with Egyptian authorities and aim to assure that their peaceful intent remains aligned with Egyptian laws and regulations, according to further insights from Reuters and Al Jazeera (4).