Gaza march activists beaten, detained in Egypt

CAIRO: Organisers of a march to the Egyptian border with Gaza said on Tuesday that three participants were abducted by plainclothes officers in Cairo amid a wave of arbitrary detentions, deportations and abuse by security forces.

Egypt’s interior and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to the allegations. Reuters could not independently verify the reported detentions or conditions.

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.

Since their arrival, dozens of participants said they have faced airport interrogations, deportations and roadblocks preventing access to the Sinai peninsula, which provides the land route to Gaza.

In a statement on Tuesday, organisers said three international participants were forcibly taken from a Cairo cafe on Monday by security officers who did not identify themselves.

Those named were Jonas Selhi and Huthayfa Abuserriya, both from Norway, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin and one of the march’s organisers.

#Egypt has paid locals from the Ismaeli area in #Cairo to assault #MarchToGaza activists, who travelled from all over the world to try and break the siege on #Gaza by marching to the #Rafah border.
The Egyptian regime was given orders by #Israel to stop the activists in any way pic.twitter.com/mvGuLUc7Mf

— Perfidia 🔻🔺🔻 (@Lauara_It) June 14, 2025

The statement said that according to Selhi, all three men were blindfolded, beaten and interrogated. Abukeshek, he said, faced especially severe abuse. His whereabouts remain unknown, while Selhi and Abuserriya have since been deported to Norway, organisers said.

Two security sources denied to Reuters that any detainees were treated violently as long as they adhered to procedures and security instructions until their deportation. The sources said that approximately 400 people have been deported, while fewer than 30 remain awaiting deportation and are being held.

“We urge the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Saif Abukeshek and all other detained march participants,” the statement said, adding that the group had suspended its Egypt-based plans and made efforts to coordinate with authorities.

Egypt’s foreign ministry had previously said travel to the Rafah area required prior approval to ensure safety. Organisers say they sought to coordinate through proper channels.

#MarchToGaza🇹🇳🇩🇿🇲🇦🇲🇷🇲🇷
La dictature égyptienne a sorti ses nervis habitués à fracasser du manifestant egyptien pour attaquer les militants de la Marche sur Gaza
Ces mercenaires ont attaqué, tenté de voler et jeté des ordures sur des militants internationaux venus du monde . pic.twitter.com/efVlK5OVO8

— Monica φ 🇨🇵🇵🇸🖤 ❤️ 💚 (@MANOUCHKYA) June 14, 2025