Egyptian security forces arrested three members of the Egyptian Flotilla to Break the Siege on Gaza late Monday night, including two members of the campaign’s preparatory committee, following a public event to collect and store aid shipments.
“We had just finished organizing and storing the aid donations when the security presence around the headquarters suddenly escalated,” Hossam Mahmoud, the flotilla’s media spokesperson, told Al Manassa. “Two members of the preparatory committee were taken without warning or explanation.”
The arrests took place at approximately 1 am outside the group’s Cairo headquarters in Dokki, shortly after the event concluded. A third detainee, a volunteer, was reportedly seized during a broader sweep by plainclothes officers in the surrounding area. A relative informed the group of the detention, Hossam explained to Al Manassa.
Egyptian Sumud Flotilla receives aid packages, Sept. 29, 2025.The whereabouts of the three remain unknown. The flotilla’s legal team is working to locate them and secure access to any prosecution proceedings. Ahmed Maher, the group’s logistics coordinator, confirmed to Al Manassa that legal efforts are underway.
“We received no prior warnings or threats from authorities,” Mahmoud said. “This came as a complete surprise.”
On Tuesday morning, the campaign’s steering committee announced they will remain permanently in session at their headquarters, holding emergency consultations with legal, civil society, and political allies, until the detainees are released.
Earlier, late Monday night, the group published a video showing activists chanting: “We are here, holding the banner high” and “We are done with silence.”
The Egyptian Sumud flotilla, launched earlier this month despite tightening security, was expected to join the global convoy sailing from international ports towards Gaza to create a humanitarian corridor and break Israel’s siege on the enclave.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Barcelona on Sept. 1 with more than 300 international activists, has faced escalating attacks during its journey towards Gaza.
The global convoy was struck twice by drones—once while docked in Tunisia and again at sea, causing material damage. Though no group has claimed responsibility, flotilla members cite continued public threats from Israeli officials.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry warned the ships would be blocked from entering what it called a “combat zone,” accused the campaign of Hamas affiliation, and referred to it as the “Hamas flotilla.”
Organizers condemned the statements as incitement and part of a broader pattern of obstructing aid to Gaza, and demanded intervention from the broader international community.
