Deported Again: Egypt Kicks Out More Gaza Solidarity Activists
Egypt expels additional Gaza protesters, expelling dozens.
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Once again, Egyptian authorities have held back international activists planning to march in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. According to reports from the German Press Agency, border guards denied entry to numerous foreign nationals on Saturday, deporting them back to their countries of origin on the same planes they arrived on.
This incident follows the planned multi-day protest actions set to commence at the Egyptian border crossing of Rafah to the Gaza Strip from Sunday. Activists around the world were planning to march about 50 kilometers from Al-Arish to the border crossing to show their support for Palestinians.
Protest actions in Egypt are generally tightly controlled and often blocked. The number of activists reaching the border crossing remains uncertain, with hundreds already detained in Ismailia near the Suez Canal on Friday, their passports seized. German MEP Carola Rackete took to Instagram on Friday, sharing a video stating she was refused entry at one of the checkpoints. She and other activists were reportedly sent back to Cairo, forced onto buses by security forces. Rackete claimed there was extensive police brutality, which she detailed in a second video posted today from Cairo.
Israel has previously requested Egypt to prevent the activists from carrying out their plans as the Israeli army controls the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing. The activists' primary objective is to press for the immediate opening of the Rafah border crossing and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, where the Israeli military is engaged in conflict with ruling Islamic Hamas.
Background
The solidarity march, known as the Global March to Gaza, Draws thousands of international activists aiming to demonstrate peaceful solidarity with Palestinians and call for an end to Israel’s siege of Gaza[1][2]. The disturbance in Egypt serves as a reminder of the tenuous balance between international solidarity and the complexities of border security and state policies in a volatile region.
Egyptian authorities have cited concerns over state sovereignty, national security, adherence to the legal and diplomatic framework, and potential clashes as reasons for halting the march and deporting participants[2][3]. Tensions between these factors and the desire for international harmony are evident in this recent episode, as organizers assert their demonstrations are aimed at supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts rather than challenging Egyptian authority.
[1] ntv.de
[2] dpa
[3] Open Democracy
- Despite the ongoing tensions in war-and-conflicts, such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, political discussions related to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, like those being held by the Commission, remain crucial.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of general news, Egyptian authorities continue to enforce strict border policies, denying entry to international activists planning a solidarity march for Palestinians in Gaza, as reported in crime-and-justice cases like the recent deportation incident.
