Pro-Palestinian Activists Abandon Plans to Reach Gaza
Palestinian supporters halt their demonstration en route to Gaza
In a surprising turn of events, approximately 1,700 supporters of Palestine, journeying from Tunisia to the embattled Gaza Strip, have decided to return home. The group, initially plotting an overland trek through Libya and Egypt, faced a roadblock when Egypt's authorities refused them entry, as announced on Facebook.
Stranded in Libya for days, the activists are now inclined to head back to Tunisia. However, they first aim to secure the release of their fellow travelers who remain captive in Libya.
Their original plan was to link up with other activists in Egypt, then embark on a 50-kilometer march on foot towards the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The venture aimed to shed light on the humanitarian predicament in the beleaguered region, occasioned by Israeli attacks, and to voice objection to the ongoing war.
Activists hailing from diverse backgrounds had congregated in Egypt with a shared purpose. Last week, around 400 of them found themselves detained in the Egyptian city of Ismailia, situated near the Suez Canal. Reports suggest that their passports were confiscated, and they were penciled in for deportation via Cairo International Airport to their respective homelands.
Egyptian Authorities' Crackdown: A Deeper Look
Egyptian authorities' actions against pro-Palestinian activists form part of a wider strategy to preserve order and prevent mass demonstrations in the vicinity of the Gaza border. The authorities have interrogated and detained hundreds of individuals predominantly from France, Canada, and Algeria who had arrived in Cairo to participate in the march. Many were left stranded at the airport deprived of essentials and eventually expelled, with some flights even being turned away[1]. The Egyptian government's tactics parallel Egypt's role as a Gaza border guard, similar to Israel's interests.
Detention in Libya: A Glimpse
Though information regarding the treatment of activists in Libya is scarce, it is known that pro-Palestinian activists from Turkey and other nations faced obstacles in both Egypt and Libya during the Global March to Gaza[2]. The situation in Libya appears to have involved similar challenges, but specific results or ongoing statuses were not elucidated in the available data.
Activists are now determined to return to their homeland in Tunisia, having been stranded in Libya after Egypt's authorities refused them entry to continue their journey towards Gaza. In addressing the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region, the activists aimed to shed light on the general-news of the humanitarian predicament in Gaza, as well as voice their politics and crime-and-justice concerns regarding the Israeli attacks.
