Organizers of the Global March to Gaza announced Monday afternoon that they are no longer planning actions in Egypt, following days of arrests, assaults and deportations amidst growing pressure from authorities that ultimately led to announcing their goal now is to guarantee safe exit for all participants from Egypt.
The announcement came after two of the March’s international coordinators, who were detained earlier, were deported from Egypt. Hicham El Ghaoui, a French citizen, and Manuel Tapial, a Spanish citizen, were arrested in Cairo over the weekend.
The Global March called for the release of all detained participants and urged diplomatic intervention. “We call on all relevant embassies to intervene on behalf of other March participants who have been detained or deported despite acting fully within the bounds of Egyptian law and entering the country legally and peacefully,” the statement read.
Saif Abukeshek, lead coordinator of the March, reaffirmed the group’s central mission, “Even as we monitor these developments, our foremost concern remains with the people of Gaza, who continue to face unimaginable suffering.” He added that the movement would continue despite the current setback. “More actions and initiatives are already underway.”
The Global March to Gaza was organized as a peaceful effort to mobilize over 4,000 international participants from more than 80 countries to demand the opening of the Rafah crossing, allowing aid in, and the end of genocidal siege on Gaza. But after what organizers described as months of coordination and dialogue with authorities, participants were met instead with detentions, confiscation of passports, and, in some cases, physical assault.
The leadership formally announced aborting hopes to organize activities in Egypt. “The Egyptian authorities’ response has made it clear that the Global March to Gaza cannot safely proceed as planned at this time,” the statement said, though they noted that an official government decision was never communicated.
Organizers accused Egyptian authorities of “unprovoked force,” and emphasized that their mission had always been peaceful and legally compliant. “We operated entirely within the bounds of Egyptian law, coordinating closely with embassies and adhering to local protocols”.
The safety and well-being of participants who remain in Egypt is now their primary concern. The statement said their focus now is to guarantee the safe return of everyone.
Despite these developments, the organizers struck a defiant tone. “Our resolve remains stronger than ever,” the statement declared.
Referencing reports by the UN and human rights groups, Abukeshek said the urgency of their mission had only grown. “This is why our commitment remains unwavering: we stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza, call for the immediate opening of a sustained humanitarian corridor, and demand an end to the ongoing genocide.”
German lawyer and co-organizer Melanie Schweizer also underscored the March’s legal and moral foundation. “These are people who refused to stand by as international law is continuously violated, and a genocide is carried out against the Palestinian people. They chose to act, peacefully and within the law, to uphold the principles the world claims to stand for,” she said.
Despite their inability to reach Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla and the Sumud Convoy were highlighted by the Global March organizers as emblematic of the international solidarity movement. Per the statement, both initiatives were described as “courageous efforts” that continue to inspire and reinforce the global push for justice.
The Sumud Convoy, which set out overland from Tunisia to reach Gaza, was ultimately blocked by Libyan authorities, while the Freedom Flotilla, a maritime mission, was intercepted by Israeli forces in international water before reaching its destination. Though physically halted, organizers say these actions symbolize an “unwavering” commitment to Palestinian rights and form a broader tapestry of resistance alongside the March.
The Egyptian crackdown on the Global March to Gaza came days after Israel publicly called on Cairo to block pro-Palestinian activists from reaching the border area with Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Karz warned that any attempt by demonstrators to approach or cross the border into the besieged enclave would be considered a provocation. “I expect the Egyptian authorities to prevent the arrival of jihadist protesters at the Egypt-Israel border and not to allow them to carry out provocations or attempt to enter Gaza—an act that would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed”.
Egypt closed the Rafah crossing in May 2024 following an Israeli incursion into the Palestinian side of Rafah, during which the Israeli army seized control of the crossing and raised its flag. Cairo has refused to coordinate aid transfers with the Israeli military, demanding a full withdrawal from the Rafah terminal.
Egypt later agreed with Washington to facilitate aid delivery through the Karm Abu Salem crossing “on a temporary basis,” but Israel kept delaying the process.
Since early March 2025, Israel has barred the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, following the collapse of a short-lived truce with Hamas.
While actions in Egypt have been called off, the March organizers say their mission continues. “The Egypt gathering is one part of our story,” the group stated, noting that more than 50 solidarity actions had taken place globally “from Mexico to Cyprus.”
“The Global March to Gaza is not over,” the organizers concluded. “It has only just begun.”
