@ Samuel Gabriel
2025-06-15 04:30:00
Global March to Gaza Collapses as Egypt Rejects Activists’ Push Against Supposed “Blockade”
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Launch of the March
During June 2025, the Global March to Gaza attracted thousands of activists from 40-80 countries to Egypt, aiming to highlight Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and protest what they label Israel’s “blockade.” The effort planned a march from Cairo to the Rafah border crossing to demand a humanitarian corridor. Egyptian authorities and local residents, however, swiftly halted the initiative, opposing the activists’ call for open borders—a policy Egypt’s military enforces to restrict Gazans from entering, with considerable local backing.
Aims and Key Figures
The march, organized as a peaceful, civilian-led action, sought to focus global attention on Gaza’s challenges and advocate unrestricted Rafah border access. Participants hailed from diverse nations, including notable figures like former U.S. diplomat Hala Rharrit and South African ex-lawmaker Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela. The itinerary involved bus travel to El-Arish, a 30-50 km walk to Rafah, and camping nearby for a symbolic protest, without plans to cross into Gaza. Activists assumed their cause would resonate with Egyptians, given Egypt’s public criticism of Gaza’s conditions, but overlooked Egypt’s own border restrictions.
Egyptian Military’s Border Control
From June 12 to 14, 2025, Egyptian authorities, supported by military forces at the Rafah crossing, acted decisively to stop the march:
Over 200 activists faced detention within Cairo, and dozens were deported upon arriving at Cairo International Airport. More than 148 returned to countries like Germany, Turkey, and various European nations, often for lacking permits. Over 40 Canadians were among those detained, with reports of passport confiscation and questioning.
On June 13-14, at a checkpoint near Ismailia, roughly 30 km from Cairo, security forces blocked the march. Organizers reported activists being directed onto buses, with some accounts mentioning physical confrontations. Melanie Schweizer, an organizer, described individuals being forcibly moved, and a Welsh nurse appeared on video engaging with security personnel. The Greek delegation also noted difficulties.
The Egyptian military’s tight control over the Rafah crossing, a militarized Sinai zone, stems from Egypt’s policy of preventing Gazans from entering, driven by security and stability concerns. The government requires prior coordination and permits for border access, a stance tied to its peace treaty with Israel and mediation role within the Israel-Palestine conflict. The activists’ protest against the supposed “blockade” directly contradicted Egypt’s deliberate border restrictions, which the military upholds to keep Gazans out.
Local Residents’ Opposition
As activists attempted to advance toward Rafah, they encountered fierce resistance from Egyptian residents who rejected their protest against the supposed “blockade.” Locals confronted activists, throwing shoes, striking them with shoes, and engaging within verbal and physical opposition. Social media posts and videos captured Egyptians criticizing the march as harmful to Egypt’s stability and reputation, with many supporting the military’s policy of restricting Gazan entry. Activists involved within these encounters often faced escort to the airport for deportation. Some online claims suggested authorities prompted local actions, but no verified evidence supports this. The local backlash revealed that Egyptians opposed the activists’ advocacy for a cause—open borders—they viewed as worsening regional issues.
Regional and Political Context
Egypt’s actions reflect its complex position, balancing public sympathy for Palestinians with its policy of restricting Gazan entry to protect national interests, including its treaty with Israel and U.S. military aid. The Egyptian military’s role within keeping Gazans out of Egypt represents a deliberate choice, not merely a consequence of Israel’s actions, and the activists’ focus on a supposed “blockade” misjudged this reality. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz’s call to block the march, citing security risks, added pressure, but Egypt’s response remained rooted within its own priorities. A related effort, the “Soumoud” convoy from Tunisia through Libya, halted at Sirte, Libya, on June 13, due to lacking Egyptian authorization, highlighting regional barriers to such initiatives.
Halt of the March
By June 14, 2025, the march could not proceed, with activists detained, deported, or blocked from reaching Sinai. Organizers expressed plans to persist, but Egypt’s military restrictions and local opposition rendered reaching Rafah unfeasible.
Reality of Activism’s Misstep
This represents the reality of being an activist advocating for a cause that locals reject, believing you’re solving a problem they think you’re making worse. The Global March to Gaza sought to challenge what activists claim is a “blockade” but faced derailment by Egypt’s military, which restricts Gazans from entering Egypt, and by locals who opposed the activists’ presence. These events illustrate the challenges of international activism within regions with intricate geopolitical dynamics, where local and state priorities—here, Egypt’s border control and stability—clash with activists’ goals. The activists’ push for open borders appeared misguided to Egyptians who support keeping Gazans out, exposing a fundamental disconnect.