Participants in the Global March to Gaza are planning to approach their respective embassies in Cairo to seek diplomatic intervention with Egyptian authorities, Saif Abukeshek, a spokesperson for the GMTG told Al Manassa.
The move follows a confrontation Friday evening, as hundreds of international marchers staged a sit-in between the two gates of Ismailia on after being stopped en route from Cairo to Rafah as part of the Global March to Gaza, which aims to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
A group of civilians assaulted the protesters in the presence of security personnel, who later intervened and forced the activists onto buses that returned them to Cairo.
Organizers had also reported that some participants remain missing, urging all groups to report the names of detained, deported, or missing individuals to help ensure their safety.
Canadian doctor Yipeng Ge, one of the participants, said group coordinator Manuel Tapial and his wife were detained from a hotel downtown on Wednesday.
In a post on X, Ge said that Tapial attended a small meeting with the Canadian delegation at around 2:30 pm on June 14 on the terrace of the hotel where he was staying. As the meeting wrapped up, Tapial and his wife Baya were reportedly detained by Egyptian police.
“For the other witnesses who saw this happen and tried to take photos/videos with their phones, their phones were confiscated by the Egyptian police. The phones were eventually returned but factory reset and not working properly,” he wrote.
“Manuel Tapial’s whereabouts are currently unknown. It’s been almost 24 hours since he’s been detained,” he added.
According to him, Tapial's wife, Baya, was deported and put on a plane and is now already outside of the country.
Speaking to Al Manassa, a participant speaking on the condition of anonymity, said many remain confined to their residences, fearful of arrest or deportation.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Hanafy Gebaly warned against any uncoordinated attempts to approach Egypt's borders or organize demonstrations without prior legal authorization.
Though activists insisted they had submitted requests to authorities and intended to respect Egyptian laws, Gebaly emphasized that Egypt's national security must take precedence, especially given the current circumstances in the region.
“Parliament reminds all those seeking to march toward the Rafah border area—and we do not in any way question their noble intentions—that supporting the Palestinian cause and standing beside its steadfast people must come only through respect for Egypt’s sovereignty and its laws. This is a duty that does not allow for argument or leniency,” told parliament on Sunday.
Gebaly did not comment on the reports of arrests and assaults against activists at the Ismailia checkpoints or Ismailia youth hostel.
On Friday, participants in the GMTG attempted to reach Ismailia, their designated gathering point, before proceeding to Arish and then marching toward the Rafah crossing.
Security forces blocked the convoys at the first and second checkpoints along the Cairo–Ismailia road, confiscating passports. As the demonstrators chanted for Palestinian freedom, authorities cut the power to the area. A fire truck arrived on site, but no ambulances were seen, despite reports of injuries among the group.
Videos circulated online showed police escorting international participants out of the Ismailia youth hostel on Friday afternoon and forcing them onto buses in preparation for deportation.
Additional footage shared on Instagram showed security forces stopping vehicles along the Cairo-Ismailia highway and checking the passengers’ passports.
Sumud Convoy under siege
In Libya, the Tunisian-led “Sumud Convoy” that set off for Gaza on 9 June was forced to retreat after a tense standoff in Sirte, under the control of forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar.
Convoy sopeksperson Jawaher Channa said the group had faced severe pressure near Sirte, including disrupted communications, movement restrictions, and conditions they had “never experienced before.”
“Those who left the convoy to contact their families, fetch water or medicine, or move around for any reason simply didn’t return,” she said. “Over time, we realized this was a tactic to break up the convoy by encouraging small groups to leave and not come back.”
She added that food brought by participants was deliberately destroyed, leaving them without adequate provisions. Women reported multiple incidents of harassment, and unknown infiltrators—later believed to be undercover security agents—mingled among them, spreading confusion and fear.
Another convoy spokesperson, Wael Naouar, said he was kidnapped, beaten, and disguised to avoid recognition before being released by a senior security officer.
Before the march was set to move, Israel called on Egypt to block the arrival of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the Gaza border.
“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,” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Egypt has kept the Rafah crossing closed since May 2024, following Israel's incursion into Rafah city and the raising of the Israeli flag over the Palestinian side of the crossing. Cairo has refused to coordinate with the Israeli army and continues to demand a full withdrawal.
