Egypt Detains Over 200 International Activists Ahead of Gaza Aid March
CAIRO, June 13, 2025 — Egyptian authorities detained more than 200 international pro-Palestinian activists in Cairo this week, just days before a planned march to Gaza’s Rafah border crossing aimed at demanding greater humanitarian access.
Participants from Algeria, Australia, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States were among those held, according to march spokesperson Saif Abukeshek. The detentions occurred at Cairo International Airport and in hotels across the city, where plainclothes officers questioned individuals, confiscated phones, and searched belongings.
“Some were arrested after interrogation, while others were released,” Abukeshek told AFP.
The Global March to Gaza, scheduled for Friday, intended to mobilize thousands in solidarity with Palestinians and call for the easing of Israel’s blockade on Gaza. The Egyptian crackdown caught many participants off guard.
At least 20 French activists were held at the airport for over 18 hours. Others, including citizens from several European and Arab nations, were reportedly deported, though organizers did not provide exact numbers.
Footage shared with AFP showed dozens crammed into a holding room, with one German participant saying, “We’re locked in here with about 30–40 people. I contacted my embassy, and they said they’re working on it.”
In another video from a deportation flight, more than 30 individuals chanted in French: “The world is with you… Gaza, Gaza.”
The Egyptian government has not issued an official statement on the detentions.
Human rights groups and several embassies have called on Egypt to clarify the legal basis for the arrests and to uphold freedom of assembly.