Egyptian authorities have detained around 100 international peace activists and deported at least 73 others at Cairo International Airport, according to airport and security sources.

The activists were part of the Global March to Gaza, a peaceful initiative drawing hundreds of participants from more than 80 countries, aimed at pressuring Israel to lift its brutal blockade on Gaza and to shed light on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The march was set to converge at Egypt’s Rafah Crossing, Gaza’s only potential gateway to the outside world not directly controlled by Israel. Organizers say their efforts to bring global attention to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza were met with unjustified crackdowns, despite their thorough coordination with Egyptian embassies and the Foreign Ministry over a two-month period.

“Participants followed every required protocol,” organizers said in a statement on Wednesday. “Their only goal was to stand in peaceful solidarity with the people of Gaza. These deportations and detentions are an affront to basic human rights and freedom of expression.”

Three airport officials confirmed that dozens of deported activists were placed on a flight to Istanbul on Thursday, while nearly 100 others remain held at the airport, awaiting deportation. The detained individuals include human rights defenders, medical workers, and civil society leaders — many of whom had traveled at personal expense to show support for Palestinians trapped under siege.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Previously, it stated that any visit to the sensitive Rafah border region must be pre-approved. But organizers firmly assert that all necessary approvals were sought and granted through official diplomatic channels in over 15 countries.

In a controversial escalation, Israel’s defense minister ordered military forces to block demonstrators from reaching Gaza via Egypt, labeling the humanitarian march as a "security threat" — a move widely condemned by human rights groups as an attempt to silence global voices of conscience.

Meanwhile, the Rafah Crossing remains effectively sealed off, with the Gaza side shuttered under Israeli enforcement. Egyptian officials have quietly acknowledged the closure but have failed to reopen the crossing or facilitate the passage of aid convoys, despite the dire humanitarian need.

Observers say the Egyptian government’s actions appear to align with Israel’s broader strategy of isolating Gaza, raising serious concerns about complicity in the ongoing collective punishment of over two million Palestinians. Activists have called on the international community to apply pressure on Cairo and Tel Aviv alike to end the siege and allow vital humanitarian aid and solidarity efforts to proceed.

“This is not just about a march,” said one activist who was turned away. “This is about standing up against injustice, against apartheid, and for the right of Palestinians to live in dignity and freedom.”

As global attention turns once again to Gaza, solidarity movements vow to continue pushing forward — despite efforts to silence them. (ILKHA)