Global March to Gaza coordinator arrested amid ongoing police crackdown
The Global March to Gaza called on Egyptian authorities to release Saif Abukeshek — one of the initiative's coordinators — along with all other detainees who had traveled to Egypt to participate in the march.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the organizers condemned the continued targeting of foreign delegations by Egyptian police. This comes despite their announcement on Monday that all planned activities in Egypt had been suspended and that the coordinators were committed to operating within the bounds of the law.
Nonetheless, plainclothes police officers continued to track down and forcibly remove participants 'from hotel rooms, cafes, shops and the streets, without cause or explanation,' according to the Tuesday statement, a copy of which Mada Masr reviewed.
On Monday afternoon, three participants were targeted while sitting at a cafe in Cairo: Norwegian nationals Jona Selhi and Huthayfa Abuserriya and Spanish-Palestinian Saif Abukeshek. The three, the statement read, were 'blindfolded, handcuffed, interrogated and brutally beaten,' with no formal charges. Selhi, who was allowed a brief phone call while in police custody, relayed the information.
The two Norwegians were later transferred to a detention center at Cairo International Airport, according to the statement. Abukeshek remains in custody, with his whereabouts still unknown. Selhi said Abukeshek was 'singled out' for particularly severe abuse.
Egyptian authorities also deported eight Tunisian activists on Tuesday. One of the deportees wrote on Facebook that they were held for six hours at Cairo International Airport, during which they were subjected to insults and violence before being deported under police escort. Their passports, he wrote while on the plane, were confiscated, only to be returned upon arrival in Tunisia.
In a statement issued Monday, the Global March to Gaza said that Egyptian authorities detained two members of its international coordination committee — French national Hicham El Ghaoui and Canadian national Manuel Tapial — before deporting them.
Later that day, the coordinators instructed all participants to leave Egypt. They explained that the decision came after they met the day before with embassies of the participating delegations and received mixed responses — some were supportive and willing to defend the marchers, while others were not.
The Global March to Gaza, launched this month, brought over 4,000 activists from more than 80 countries to Egypt in an attempt to peacefully approach the Rafah border crossing and draw attention to Gaza's deepening humanitarian crisis.
However, since their arrival, they have faced intimidation and arrests from Egyptian authorities which ultimately forced the organization to instruct delegations to leave Cairo earlier this week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
an hour ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iran Launches New Wave of Missile Attacks on Israeli Military Targets
Taarek Refaat Iran launched a new wave of missile strikes Friday, targeting military sites and sites linked to Israel's defense industry. According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, a fresh round of missile attacks was initiated just minutes ago, aimed at military objectives and centers connected to Israel's defense industry. Air sirens blared throughout Israel during the afternoon following the launch of an Iranian ballistic missile attack. 🔻دمار كبير في بئر السبع بعد سقوط الصاروخ الإيراني صباح اليوم . — إيران بالعربية (@iraninarabic_ir) June 20, 2025 Initial reports, as cited by The Jerusalem Post, indicate that explosions were heard in Haifa in northern Israel, as well as in central regions. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that an increasing number of missile operations are now focused on military objectives and Israel's defense industries. The Iranian armed forces retaliated to Israel's brutal offensive by launching missiles from multiple locations. Iranian authorities emphasized their determination to respond firmly to any further Israeli aggression. 🟥 سقوط مباشر... مكان الاستهداف الآن — إيران بالعربية (@iraninarabic_ir) June 20, 2025 read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
China evacuates 119 citizens from Israel to Egypt - Foreign Affairs
China evacuated 119 Chinese citizens from Israel to Egypt on Thursday via the Taba border crossing in Egypt's South Sinai governorate, Chinese News agency Xinhua reported. According to Xinhua, the evacuees entered Egypt from the crossing around 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT) and were then guided onto buses after completing the necessary procedures. The group included 117 students and two Hong Kong residents, who will be transferred to Cairo, the embassy said. "China is highly concerned about our compatriots overseas. Their well-being and safety are always our priority," Xinhua quoted Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang. "We completed all preparatory work efficiently within 24 hours and dispatched an action group to Taba overnight to organize the process of entry," Liao said. He added that the embassy worked closely with the Egyptian government overnight to request passage permits, necessary assistance, and security guarantees. Sun Xue, a postdoctoral fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that the journey from Jerusalem to the Taba border crossing took about four hours. He noted that during the entry process at the crossing, staff and volunteers from the Chinese embassy in Egypt provided assistance and coordination. 'We are truly grateful to them," Sun said. China is the latest country to use the Taba border as a safe exodus path for its citizens from Israel, after Poland, France, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, following the Iranian retaliation on Israeli attacks. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Greece Rescues Over 600 Migrants Off Gavdos and Crete
By Ahmad El-Assasy Greek coast guard authorities announced on Friday the rescue of more than 600 migrants found aboard two fishing vessels sailing off the southernmost edge of the country, according to a report by ABC News. In an official statement, the Hellenic Coast Guard said the first vessel was carrying 352 people and was located approximately 55 kilometers south of Gavdos Island. The second boat, carrying 278 individuals, was found 90 kilometers south of Crete. There were no immediate details released about the nationalities of those rescued. Greece continues to serve as a key entry point for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to reach the European Union, particularly those fleeing poverty, conflict, or unemployment in their home countries in search of better opportunities. Search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean have increased in recent years amid a surge in irregular migration across dangerous sea routes. Authorities confirmed that all rescued individuals were safely brought ashore and received basic medical attention and humanitarian aid. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
