A major international march protesting aid restrictions on Gaza was thrown into uncertainty on Friday, as Egyptian authorities delayed permission for the event and Libyan officials blocked an overland convoy headed toward the Egypt-Gaza border.
Participants from 80 nations had mobilized for the “Global March on Gaza” to highlight the worsening humanitarian crisis following Israel’s restrictions on aid entry since March.
The march was expected to be one of the most significant global actions in solidarity with Gaza. It was organized alongside other efforts, including a humanitarian flotilla intercepted earlier this week by the Israeli military while en route to the blockaded territory.
However, in Cairo, hundreds of international activists were reportedly detained and deported upon arrival. Organizers stated they would regroup at a site outside the city on Friday in preparation for the march scheduled for Sunday, even as the Egyptian government had yet to authorize access to the Sinai Peninsula a region under strict security control.
“We urge Egypt to permit this peaceful demonstration, which reflects their own stated goals of stabilizing the border and responding to the dire conditions in Gaza,” organizers said in a public appeal.
Spokesperson Hicham El-Ghaoui said the group would delay any demonstrations until Egyptian officials clarified their stance on the march.
The event has placed Egypt in a delicate position. Although the country publicly condemns the blockade and calls for an end to hostilities, it has simultaneously cracked down on pro-Palestinian activism. Since the war began, Egyptian authorities—who maintain a close security relationship with Israel and receive substantial U.S. military aid—have arrested at least 186 individuals for pro-Gaza demonstrations or charity efforts, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
This aggressive response has shocked many international participants. Italian activist Antonietta Chiodo described how arriving demonstrators were interrogated, mistreated, or deported. Belgian human rights lawyer Alexis Deswaef recounted that Egyptian security forces had surrounded the hotel near Cairo’s Talat Harb Square where many activists were staying. He and his group evaded detention by pretending to be tourists on their way to visit the Pyramids.
“I didn’t expect Egypt to act on Israel’s behalf like this,” Deswaef said from Giza. He expressed hope that the number of activists heading to the assembly point outside Cairo would overwhelm any potential crackdown.
One of the ‘Global March to Gaza’ organisers just got her passport confiscated and thrown on a bus—after her friends were beaten.
Not by Israel. By Egypt.
Turns out blindly following Greta into the Middle East isn’t just cringe—it’s dangerous.
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) June 13, 2025
Meanwhile, an overland aid convoy from Algeria, which picked up participants in Tunisia and Libya, was halted in Sirte by authorities loyal to eastern Libya’s rival government. The convoy had crossed into Libya but was stopped near contested territory. Libya remains divided between factions based in the east and west, with the eastern administration enjoying backing from Egypt.
Libyan officials urged organizers to coordinate through official diplomatic channels and advised participants to return home, referencing Egypt’s refusal to permit the march.
The conflict began with Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel on 7 October, 2023, which left more than 1,200 people dead and 251 hostages taken. To date, 52 hostages remain in captivity, with 20 believed to still be alive.
(With Inputs From Times Of Israel)
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