Deported Once More: Egypt Kicks Out Global Activists Undercover
Egypt removes additional Gaza activists, expanding the number of deported individuals.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link In a bitter twist of fate, Egyptian authorities pulled yet another sneaky move on Saturday, deporting a horde of international activists attempting to travel to the Gaza Strip's border for a solidarity march. Spilling the beans to the German Press Agency, insider sources at Cairo Airport revealed the shocking details.
To break it down, border guards weren't having it, denying entry to numeral folk from varying nations and shipping them back on the same flights they arrived on. The grand plan for multi-day demonstrations at the Egyptian border crossing of Rafah to the Gaza Strip, followed by a 50-kilometer march from the town of Al-Arish towards the border, was set to commence on Sunday.
Now, protests in Egypt are about as loose as a goose, often getting zapped at the hatch. The final count of activists who'll make it to the border remains a mystery, with hundreds already nabbed in the city of Ismailia near the Suez Canal on Friday. Even our German friends fell prey to this shady operation, with their passports confiscated right off the bat.
German MEP Carola Rackete took to Instagram for a video rant on Friday, claiming she was given the cold shoulder at the checkpoints herself. Security forces ushered her and the other activists onto buses and bounced back to Cairo. Rackete revealed a scene of sheer pandemonium in another video posted today from Cairo, branding it as a stage of mass police violence.
This wild protest movement dreams of the immediate cracking open of the Rafah border crossing and unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, a place where Israel's army and the ruling Islamic Hamas forces are at each other's throats. Israel already pleaded with Egypt to keep the activists from carrying out their plans, with the Israeli army still snatching up the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing.
So, why did the Egyptian authorities pull off this passenger purge? Well, a lack of paperwork was the official reason; the activists reportedly did not secure the proper authorizations for their march. Security concerns were also echoed since Israel's defense minister expressed worries about this event, with regional safety being paramount for the Egyptians. Additionally, entry protocol violations, such as the requirement of confirmed return tickets between June 12 and 16, were cited as reasons for ejecting these activists from their planned gathering.
This incident impressed the activists' home countries, who now worry about their citizens being smacked around by the Egyptian authorities. Diplomatic maneuvers are underway to ensure the consular protection of those affected.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Enrichment Insights:
- Lack of Authorization: Egyptian authorities claimed the activists did not obtain the necessary authorizations for the march, highlighting the need to seek permission from Egyptian embassies or government entities ahead of time.
- Security Concerns: Israeli's defense minister voiced concerns about the event, while Egyptian authorities emphasized the importance of adhering to official procedures to maintain safety and security in the region.
- Entry Protocol Violations: New entry protocols required all passengers to have confirmed return tickets between June 12 and 16. Many activists were deported for not abiding by these regulations.
- International Pressure: Due to detentions, the activists' home countries feel the heat, with diplomatic efforts in progress to secure consular protection for affected parties.
The Commission, in light of the recent incident, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation during war-and-conflicts and political unrest, such as those experienced by the deported activists at Cairo Airport. General news outlets are reporting intensified politics and crime-and-justice discussions amongst international bodies regarding this mass detainment and questionable treatment of the activists.
