Egyptian authorities violently clash with Western activists, detain and deport marchers en mass
A Gaza aid activist has said they were 'violently dragged' onto buses and 'beaten' as Egyptian authorities deported them.
Thousands have been arriving from more than 80 countries since Thursday to join the Global March to Gaza protest.
The some 4,000 volunteers landed in Cairo as planned, then taking buses to the city of Arish in the north of the country's Sinai Peninsula.
From there, they hope to start their planned march, on a roughly 30-mile route, to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza border.
But organisers said today that several dozen activists were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, which is around a three-hour drive from Arish.
One posted a video to social media while on a bus heading there, saying: 'This is an emergency.
'We have just been violently dragged into the buses here at the first checkpoint on the way to Ismailia.
Organisers said today that several dozen activists (pictured) were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailia
One posted a video to social media (pictured) while on a bus heading there, saying: 'This is an emergency'
'We were sitting quietly and not doing anything. We were debating that we would leave soon, in taxis back to Cairo because we did not break any law.
'And all of a sudden, several people stormed in and they started to push people and drag them violently outside.
'They have beaten people. I have seen one woman that was beaten in her face in front of me. They didn't leave time to grab the luggage or anything.
'So, this is one of the Secret Service people that was just walking in here. I have to stop this livestream now - we are in danger. This is an emergency. We need to help.'
Most of the activists were ordered onto buses back to the capital after several hours of questioning - but some remain in custody today, organisers said.
'We were blocked for six to seven hours before security forces violently dispersed our group,' one organiser said.
At least one activist was expelled from Egypt, several sources said, adding to dozens more denied entry or expelled in the run-up to the march.
Egyptian authorities have not commented on the reported expulsions.
She continued: 'We have just been violently dragged into the buses here at the first checkpoint on the way to Ismailia'
Most of the activists were ordered onto buses back to the capital after several hours of questioning - but some remain in custody today, organisers said
The foreign ministry had warned that any foreign delegations intending to visit the border area must obtain prior permission.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said allowing the activists through the border would 'endanger the security of IDF soldiers'.
He added he expected Egypt 'to prevent the arrival of jihadist demonstrators to the border of Egypt-Israel and not to allow them to carry out provocations and to try to enter into Gaza'.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14812769/Gaza-aid-activist-violently-dragged-buses-beaten-Egyptian-authorities-deported.html
Global March to Gaza announced on Instagram that there had been " violence against the peaceful global delegation", including people being "detained, harassed, physically harmed and deported."
Violent clashes broke out between Egyptian authorities and foreign pro-Palestine activists taking part in the 'Resistance Convoy' to Rafah on Friday and Saturday. Most of the clashes occurred while activists staged a sit-in outside the Ismailia checkpoint.
Global March to Gaza announced on Instagram that there had been "unprovoked violence against a peaceful global delegation", including people being "detained, harassed, physically harmed and deported."
"The group, comprised of people from over 80 countries, are expecting to be safely transferred to Cairo and have their passports returned."
The group, however, said that if this does not happen, and Egypt attempts to "forcibly" deport members, it would then launch Plan B involving "a non-violent protest."
"In the event of this outcome, the leadership of the march will initiate a hunger strike, refusing food as a form of peaceful resistance."
Protests against Egyptian locals
Footage from organizing groups shows keffiyeh-clad activists clashing with Egyptian locals, who can be seen lobbing clubs and water bottles at them as they attempt to advance. Other videos show local Egyptians grabbing at the seated activists, and screams and shouts can be heard.In one clip posted by @paliboy_83, thousands of activists can be seen chanting 'Free Palestine' while waving various flags, such as Swiss and Algerian, before being attacked by what he claims are "Egypt's police in civilian clothing."
German activist Mohammad Al-Zubide said, "These people were sent specifically by the Egyptian police to suppress and beat us."
"The Egyptian government has stopped peaceful foreign nationals at the Ismailia checkpoint to prevent them from proceeding towards the Rafah border. Authorities have confiscated passports and compelled many to turn back by force."
The grandson of Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela, who is participating in the convoy, released a video on social media announcing that he had been detained for about an hour from Cairo and his passport had been confiscated.
"We are held here at one of the checkpoints without being permitted to proceed."
Multiple Western activists have appeared on Instagram claiming that they were attacked and had their passports taken and now are stuck in Egypt.
One German-sounding activist released a video saying, "this is an emergency, we have just been violently dragged into the buses here at the first checkpoint on the way to Ismailia. We were sitting quietly and not doing anything. And all of a sudden, several people stormed in and they started to push people and attack them violently outside. I have seen a woman that was beaten in her face. They didn't leave time to grab the luggage or anything."
She claimed that secret service people had boarded the bus, before shutting down the video: "we are in danger, we need help."
In a now-viral video, a Welsh nurse activist can be heard trying to negotiate with Egyptian riot police via a translator: "where is your kindness, where is your heart?" he asks them while crying. "For the love of life and the love of humanity."
"There are babies and women, the women are trying to feed their dying babies and their breasts are empty," he tried to persuade the police. "Do you know what that smells like, do you know what that sounds like?"
He continues by asking them to stand with their "brothers and sisters in Palestine" before getting on his knees and saying "I will beg you to allow us to march to Palestine."
The Egyptian authorities, standing in a line, do not reply.
A woman tells the Welsh activist "they are waiting for orders, they can't hear you," to which he replies "I know, but they don't have to follow orders."
US career diplomat Hala Rharrit - who resigned over Biden's position on the war in Gaza - was detained on arrival at Cairo airport, passport taken and interrogated, she announced on Instagram.
"I would have hoped for a warmer welcome," she said "especially considering this March was fully coordinated with Egyptian authorities by the organizers well in advance."
Global March reposted the words of a participant who accused Egypt of being "utterly complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people."
It then reposted the supposed emergency WhatsApp message from an Irish citizen saying "guys, keep eyes on us, we are in a bus with a guy who beat us and is on the phone to a very white zio looking person." Global March for Gaza claimed the Irish citizen "urgently needs help."
March to Gaza's Greece wing praises its members for remaining "calm despite the pressure and violence by the Egyptian police."
The branch reported being given an ultimatum by Egyptian authorities to "either leave in 15 or you will be expelled" The activists chose to stay they decided to stay, "until the Egyptian police forces launched violent attacks against members of the Greek delegation and also the internationals."
The Canadian delegation was similarly detained including someone named Dr Yipeng, who confirmed that their papers had all been taken at the Ismailia checkpoint.
