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June 14, 2025 – India –
Egyptian security forces detained over 200 activists and journalists—including Indian reporter Nikita Jain from Maktoob Media—at checkpoints near Ismailia and in Cairo, ahead of the Global March to Gaza solidarity protest. The march, organized by an international coalition of human rights groups and activists, aimed to enter Gaza via Rafah on foot to protest Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, drawing participants from over 80 countries.
Jain was among approximately 1,000 protesters stopped at Ismailia, where authorities seized passports and blocked non-Egyptian nationals from proceeding. She reported that around 70 people remained in custody, and photography or recording was strictly forbidden. Reuters and AP reporting estimate that more than 200 were detained or deported, with nearly 500 foreign activists removed from Egypt by June 15.
Security forces also targeted activists near Cairo’s international airport, where dozens of passports were confiscated, with some detainees held for long hours inside holding areas. Journalist Jain had been covering the movement across North Africa—from Tunisia and Libya—when detained.
Local organizers stated the marchers had complied with Egyptian law, but government authorities insisted participants lacked proper authorization for the sensitive Sinai region and Rafah border. Egyptian officials emphasized that all marches require formal permission, particularly near Gaza, citing national-security concerns. Nonetheless, activists argue the detentions show broader political suppression: Al Jazeera reports of “police and plainclothes officers” forcibly blocking the route and seizing phones, provoking diplomatic calls for embassies to intervene.
The crackdown drew international scrutiny. Irish MP Paul Murphy and other foreign nationals were among those held; some were released on June 14, while many were deported without a clear explanation. Protest organizers vowed to regroup and continue the attempt to reach Rafah despite the legal and physical obstacles.
This incident underscores escalating tensions in Egypt surrounding pro‑Palestine activism, raising concerns over repression of peaceful protest and censorship of international journalists reporting on the Gaza crisis.
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