Egyptian authorities have come under fierce criticism after arresting dozens of volunteers from the Maghreb Solidarity Convoy, a humanitarian mission departing from Tunisia through Libya en route to the Rafah border, aimed at breaking Gaza’s siege and delivering vital medical and aid supplies.

The convoy—comprised of hundreds of activists from Tunisia and Algeria traveling in over 160 vehicles—has been widely praised across the Maghreb as a grassroots symbol of Arab solidarity with Palestine. However, its reception in Egypt has been markedly different, marked by silence from official sources and a crackdown on volunteer participants.

Activists Detained at Cairo Airport

At Cairo International Airport, three Algerian lawyers—among 37 convoy participants—were forcibly detained, their phones and documents confiscated, and held without any legal basis. Attorney Fatiha Rouibi reported that they face possible deportation, despite carrying no political agenda beyond humanitarian relief.

“Egyptian authorities detained my colleagues without justification,” Rouibi said, “and have refused to explain their actions.” The detained convoy members reportedly endured up to four hours of interrogation and were later escorted from hotels to the airport for expulsion.

Civil Society Decries Egypt's Complicit Silence

Leading voices in Egypt’s civil society have spoken out against the government's actions.

According to local media outlets, renowned Egyptian human rights defender Aida Seif El-Dawla strongly criticized the arrests, pointing out that even those initially allowed entry into Egypt were quickly expelled and ordered to leave the country.

Mahienour El-Massry, a well-known rights lawyer, said: “Blocking this convoy would be a national disgrace. It’s an important act of solidarity, not a threat.”

Ramy Shaath, veteran activist and co-founder of the BDS movement in Egypt, added: “This convoy reflects global outrage against Israel’s siege. Suppressing it only bolsters the claim that Egypt is complicit in Gaza’s starvation.”

Members of the convoy had hoped to deliver critical aid and express support for Palestinians under siege in Gaza. According to Islam Awadi, a participant from Tunisia, the group had previously received “positive signals” from Egyptian officials about being allowed to cross into Gaza. However, those assurances now appear meaningless in light of the latest crackdown.

Rights groups warn that Egypt’s suppression of peaceful solidarity actions not only undermines humanitarian efforts but also reinforces perceptions of its alignment with the ongoing blockade and suffering in Gaza.

Political and Security Pressures

Egyptian media figures known for their pro-regime stance, including commentator Ahmed Moussa, have described the convoy as a potential political tool subject to manipulation. A senior security official reportedly argued that allowing the convoy through could humiliate the Egyptian state.

Critics argue that the silence from Egyptian authorities, both at home and from the Foreign Ministry, signals an ongoing complicity with Israel’s deadly siege, even as official rhetoric pays lip service to Palestinian suffering.

International Solidarity vs. Egypt's Restrictions

The Maghreb Solidarity Convoy has received widespread praise across Tunisia, Algeria, and via social media—seen as a political rebuke to the international community’s inaction on Gaza. Israel’s Security Minister Yisrael Katz, in response, labeled the convoy participants “jihadists”, revealing Israel’s fear of growing Arab solidarity with Palestinians.

The convoy’s route includes a major stop in Zawiya, Libya—where activists were greeted with public acclaim—before seeking entry into Egypt and onward to Gaza.

A Dire Choice for Egypt

The convoy's detention reflects a stark choice for Egypt: either facilitate civil society efforts to alleviate Gaza’s suffering, or continue enforcing a blockade that rights groups liken to complicity in collective punishment.

Egypt still faces mounting pressure to allow the convoy safe passage to Gaza. As global solidarity builds, the government's silence and shutdown on humanitarian actors intensify scrutiny of its role in the Gaza crisis. (ILKHA)