Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza
Egyptian authorities detained more activists planning to march to Gaza in protest of restrictions on aid reaching the territory, while security forces in eastern Libya blocked a convoy of activists en route to meet them.
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. Israel slightly eased restrictions last month, allowing limited aid in, but experts warn the measures fall far short.
The Global March on Gaza was slated to be among the largest demonstrations of its kind in recent years, coinciding with other efforts including a boat carrying activists and aid that was intercepted by Israel’s military while on its way to Gaza earlier this week.
Organizers on Friday said authorities confiscated the passports of 40 activists at what they called a “toll both-turned-checkpoint” being patrolled by riot gear-clad officers and armored vehicles. They said security forces had begun detaining and using force to remove activists from the area and suppress protests.
Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian human rights lawyer, said he woke up on Friday to dozens of security vehicles packed with uniformed officers surrounding Talat Harb Square, where he and other activists had found hotels. Members of his group snuck out of the lobby as security entered, asking an officer for assistance booking taxis to the pyramids of Giza, where they’ve been since.
“I am so surprised to see the Egyptians doing the dirty work of Israel,” he said from the pyramids. He hoped there would be too many activists at the new meeting point outside Cairo for Egyptian authorities to arrest en masse.
https://apnews.com/article/egypt-libya-gaza-activists-march-stopped-rafah-f4b4c4775efb0c5afba1ef4acc5b5f98
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