Latest news with #GlobalMarchToGaza
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Paul Murphy returns to Ireland after being held in Egypt
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who was detained twice in Egypt while participating in the Global March to Gaza, has returned to Ireland. He was among a group of participants in the march from Ireland who flew back to Dublin. Speaking to journalists at Dublin Airport, the People Before Profit/Solidarity TD said that "this phase of the global march to Gaza is finished". However, he said that the international campaign for Gaza will continue and will focus next on the meeting between EU foreign ministers and Israel's foreign minister in Brussels next week. Mr Murphy said that all of the Irish people involved in the march "are fine" but there are others still detained in Egypt and for that reason he had to be careful "in terms of what comments we make about Egypt". He said he still does not have his phone back following his detention. Earlier, Mr Murphy told RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme that no other Irish citizens were currently detained in Egypt. Mr Murphy said it was not initially clear to him that he was being detained. "For the first three hours or so, it was just a slow, bureaucratic process. Things were taking a long time. I asked to leave and was told I couldn't. The whole time they had my passport, and it became clear that I was being detained, as unfortunately hundreds of have been in Egypt, and many people deported. "Yesterday, in total, I was in the police station for nine hours," he added. The TD for Dublin South West said that there would be no renewed attempt for the group to continue their march to Rafah, and that they were disappointed that they had not succeeded. Have now been released, thanks again for all the support. Others from #GlobalMarchToGaza still detained. Will comment further when I've left Egypt. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 "Obviously, we are disappointed that we didn't get to Rafah. But, we have had probably the largest international people-powered coalition for Palestine in a very long time." Hundreds of people went to Egypt for the Global March to Gaza, an international initiative intended to exert pressure for an end to an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis there. Mr Murphy said that pressure needed to be put on western governments to get Israel "to stop what they are doing".
The Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Paul Murphy lands in Dublin after being detained twice in Egypt over Gaza aid march
PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT TD Paul Murphy has returned to Ireland this afternoon after he was detained in Egypt twice over the planned Global March to Gaza. Last week, Murphy and members of an activist group had their passports taken and were held after attempting to walk to Rafah as part of a 4,000-people-strong protest march highlighting the blockage of aid into Gaza. He was then detained for a second time in Cairo yesterday when he went to a police station to retrieve his mobile phone, which was being held by authorities. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland earlier, Murphy said his release was 'a slow, bureaucratic process'. 'Things were taking a long time. I asked to leave and was told I couldn't,' Murphy said. 'The whole time they had my passport, and it became clear that I was being detained, as unfortunately hundreds of have been in Egypt, and many people deported. 'Yesterday, in total, I was in the police station for nine hours,' he added. Murphy departed Egypt by plane this morning, and arrived in Dublin airport shortly after 2pm today. Speaking to reporters shortly after his arrival in Dublin, the People Before Profit TD said that while the march had not reached Gaza, it 'did succeed in highlighting what's happening'. Advertisement 'This is probably the biggest global coordinated march to Gaza,' Murphy said. #GlobalMarchToGaza continues - Return to Ireland — People Before Profit (@pb4p) June 17, 2025 He said that the march had 'tremendous support' from the Egyptian people, but he added that he was 'disappointed with the stance that the Egyptian state took'. Murphy confirmed that no other Irish citizens are currently detained in Egypt, and said that some are remaining there. He added that a number of activists from other countries are still detained. 'We're hopeful that they're released as soon as possible,' Murphy said. He explained that the march to Gaza was finished, and said that organisers of the march accept that they will not reach the Rafah Crossing. Earlier today, Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins took aim at Murphy's actions over the weekend, telling the Irish Independent that the Gaza march was carried out 'on the basis of publicity than maybe delivery', arguing that Murphy's time would be better spent in the Dáil. Murphy dismissed the criticism, telling reporters that joining the march 'was the contribution I felt that I could make'. 'I left on Thursday, I was in the Dáil on Thursday morning. I'm back today, and I'll be back for the Dáil today,' Murphy said. 'I think my constituents and most people in this country want pols to do everything they can to stop this genocide.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Paul Murphy returning to Ireland after being held in Egypt
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who was detained twice in Egypt while participating in the Global March to Gaza, will return to Ireland today. He was among a group of participants in the march from Ireland who will fly back to Dublin. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Murphy said that no other Irish citizens are currently detained in Egypt. He said some are remaining in Egypt and said he is "conscious of their safety and not putting them in any jeopardy." Mr Murphy said it was not initially clear to him that he was being detained. "For the first three hours or so, it was just a slow, bureaucratic process. Things were taking a long time. I asked to leave and was told I couldn't. The whole time they had my passport, and it became clear that I was being detained, as unfortunately hundreds of have been in Egypt, and many people deported. "Yesterday, in total, I was in the police station for nine hours," he added. The TD for Dublin South West said that there would be no renewed attempt for the group to continue their march to Rafah, and that they were disappointed that they had not succeeded. Have now been released, thanks again for all the support. Others from #GlobalMarchToGaza still detained. Will comment further when I've left Egypt. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 "Obviously, we are disappointed that we didn't get to Rafah. But, we have had probably the largest international people-powered coalition for Palestine in a very long time. "This phase of the Global March to Gaza is over, there won't be a renewed attempt to get to Rafah. But then our focus turns to events, like in Brussels next week, where the European foreign ministers are scandalously going to be meeting with the Israeli foreign minister at a time when Israel has 20 months of genocide in Gaza, as well as starting a war with Iran," he said. Hundreds of people came to Egypt for the Global March to Gaza, an international initiative intended to exert pressure for an end to an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis there. Mr Murphy said that pressure needed to be put on western governments to get Israel "to stop what they are doing". "Many western governments, and many of the people who were there, are coming from countries where their governments are effectively arming and funding Israel. You now have Ursula von der Leyen saying Israel has a right to defend itself at this moment, when they're not just responsible for regional instability but genocide. "But also, our own Government ... We need to go beyond words, and we need to match those words with action, which means the full implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill, it means stopping weapons flying through our skies, and it means stopping our Central Bank authorising the sale of Israeli war bonds across Europe. "Relatively speaking, our position is privileged. Therefore, it's still incumbent on all of us to do whatever we can. Unless you close your eyes, you can't not be aware that there is a genocide happening in Gaza," he added.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Paul Murphy detained and passport seized in Egypt again
Paul Murphy has been detained again in Egypt, according to his family. It is claimed the People Before Profit TD went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone, under the advice of the Irish Embassy, but has not been allowed to leave. Advertisement Other participants in the Global March to Gaza are reportedly also detained. Paul's partner, Jess Spear is appealing to Tánaiste Simon Harris to ensure all those involved are released, and their passports are returned. A statement on behalf or Mr Murphy said: "I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo." He said after arriving at the police station, officials "had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter". "They claim they are looking for my phone. I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave." Ms Spear said the Tánaiste "must ensure that Paul and all the Global March to Gaza participants are released, have their passports returned and are allowed to continue their humanitarian mission to try and get aid to the people of Gaza".
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
The Latest: Iran launches a new wave of missile attacks on Israel as conflict enters fourth day
Iran fired a new wave of missile attacks on Israel early Monday, triggering air raid sirens across the country as emergency services reported at least five killed and dozens more wounded in the fourth day of a conflict between the regional foes that showed no sign of slowing. Powerful explosions, likely from Israel's defense systems intercepting Iranian missiles, rocked Tel Aviv shortly before dawn. Plumes of black smoke rose into the sky over the major coastal city. The latest salvo comes after a weekend of escalating tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Iran that raised fears of a wider, more dangerous regional war. Iran on Sunday said Israel struck oil refineries, killed the intelligence chief of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and hit population centers in intensive aerial attacks. ___ Here's the latest: Egypt arrests 2 members of Global March to Gaza, group says Egyptian authorities arrested two members of the international coordination committee of the Global March to Gaza, the group said Monday. The group said in a statement it hasn't heard from French citizen Hicham El Ghaoui and Spanish national Manuel Tapial for around a day since their arrest and it has no details about their whereabouts. Demonstrators from 80 countries planned to march to Egypt's border with Gaza to spotlight the deepening humanitarian crises facing Palestinians since Israel began blocking aid trucks from entering the coastal enclave in March. 'Our commitment remains unchanged: We stand with Gaza, call for the opening of a humanitarian corridor, and demand an end to the genocide against the Palestinian people. Governments must act now,' the statement said. Foreigners are being evacuated from Iran and Israel Some 120 people, including diplomats and their families, were evacuated from Iran via Turkmenistan, the country's Foreign Ministry said Monday. Many of those evacuated were from fellow Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, officials said. Turkmenistan, a gas-rich nation that has remained largely isolated under its autocratic rulers since it became independent following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, shares a 1,148-kilometer (713-mile) border with Iran. The Czech Republic is also sending a plane for Czechs who want to leave Israel amid the conflict with Iran, the Czech Foreign Ministry said. Other Czechs will use another plane sent by the government of Slovakia headed to Jordan to return home. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it helped 14 Taiwanese leave Israel by bus for Jordan on Sunday and will help them travel onward. The ministry is in touch with another nine Taiwanese currently in Iran and will assist them if they need help departing, the ministry said in a statement Monday. Concussion of Iranian missile causes minor damage to US Consulate in Tel Aviv The American Consulate in Tel Aviv suffered minor damage from the concussion of an Iranian missile landing nearby, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said on Monday. Huckabee said in a post on X there were no injuries to American personnel but that the consulate in Tel Aviv and Embassy in Jerusalem would remain closed through the day as a precaution. The damage came amid a new wave of Iranian missile attacks on Israel in retaliation for Israel's sweeping attacks on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure. Iran's health ministry says 224 killed since Israel's attack began Friday Iran's health ministry says 224 people have been killed since Israel's attack began Friday. Spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said on social media that 1,277 other people were hospitalized, and asserted that over 90% of the casualties were civilians. Israel has said 14 people have been killed there since Friday and 390 others wounded. EU foreign ministers to meet Tuesday by video link The European Union's top diplomat will convene an emergency meeting of the 27-nation bloc's foreign ministers Tuesday to discuss the conflict between Israel and Iran. The meeting, to be held via video link, 'will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views, coordination on diplomatic outreach to Tel Aviv and Tehran, and possible next steps,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas' office said Sunday. 'We will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue which can only be through a negotiated deal,' it said. Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US official says President Donald Trump vetoed a plan presented by Israel to the U.S. to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. The Israelis informed the Trump administration in recent days that they had developed a credible plan to kill Khamenei. After being briefed on the plan, the White House made clear to Israeli officials that Trump was opposed to the Israelis making the move, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the sensitive matter. The Trump administration is desperate to keep Israel's military operation aimed at decapitating Iran's nuclear program from exploding into an even more expansive conflict and saw the plan to kill Khamenei as a move that would enflame the conflict and potentially destabilize the region.
