Egypt blocks activists' bid to march to Gaza border
Egyptian authorities have blocked activists' efforts to hold a march to the Gaza border to draw attention to Israel's blockade of the war-torn Palestinian territory, organisers said Saturday (June 14, 2025).
Several dozen activists hoping to join the planned Global March to Gaza were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya, the organisers said.
From there they had hoped to travel on by road to the North Sinai city of El-Arish, the starting point for their planned march to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza border.
Most of the activists were ordered onto buses back to the capital after several hours of questioning, but some remained in custody on Saturday (June 14, 2025), the organisers said.
'We were blocked for six to seven hours before security forces violently dispersed our group,' one organiser said.
Also read: Thousands of demonstrators march through Rome, calling for immediate end to war in Gaza
At least one activist was expelled from Egypt, several sources said, adding to dozens more denied entry or expelled in the run-up.
Egyptian authorities have not commented on the reported expulsions.
The Foreign Ministry had warned that while Egypt backs efforts to put 'pressure on Israel' to lift its Gaza blockade, any foreign delegations intending to visit the border area must obtain prior permission.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Israel's high-risk strategy has made an already unstable region more dangerous over the weekend
Agencies A building hit by an Iranian missile at Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, Israeli defence policy seems to have changed in the wake of the Gaza conflict. Unable to see a political solution to the Palestinian question, Tel Aviv appears to have decided on pre-emptive action against any entity or country it suspects of posing any kind of threat to it. Iran, with its tactical, material and financial support for Hamas, has long been on Israel's radar, more so because Tehran is further suspected of developing a nuclear weapons series of military strikes Israel began on June 13 - initially on Iranian nuclear and military installations, followed up by targeted assassinations of top Iranian military and paramilitary functionaries - marks the next stage of Israel's highly risky new defence strategy. Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes over the last three days have inaugurated a new phase in the conflict-ridden history of West Asia. Iran has been suspected of a clandestine nuclear weapons programme since 2003, a charge it denies. International sanctions regime had brought Iran to the negotiation table, resulting in Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) in 2015, which put its nuclear programme on ice. When Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018 and brought back sanctions on Iran - to force it to curtail its regional ambitions using proxy militias (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, etc) - Tehran accelerated its nuclear programme, and is now believed by Israel to be only a few weeks away from developing nuclear weapons. Soon after the onset of his second term, Trump proposed fresh negotiations towards a new deal. In the five rounds of talks that followed with Qatari mediation, Iran refused to abandon its right to nuclear enrichment, and to even discuss its missile development programme, two key American demands. The sixth round of nuclear talks scheduled for June 15, meant to deliberate on these issues, was cancelled yesterday. Benjamin Netanyahu is convinced that Iran is determined to go nuclear, so talks would be futile. He believes Iran's nuclear problem needs be contained militarily. During the October 2024 tit-for-tat strikes on Iran, Israel had severely damaged the former's air defence system. If further military strikes were to be carried out against Iran's nuclear facilities while its air defences were down, time was running out. On June 12, when IAEA pronounced that Tehran was in breach of its NPT commitments, Netanyahu gave the go ahead - against Trump's advice as late as June 8. Israeli targeting of Iran's nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan and Tehran-Karaj, and assassination of nine nuclear scientists, matches with its stated aim of preventing Iran going nuclear. Its simultaneous targeting of military installations and high military and regime functionaries - Hossein Salami, Mohammad Bagheri, Gholamali Rashid, and grand ayatollah Ali Khamenei's close associate Ali Shamkhani - could be an attempt to destabilise the unpopular political dispensation, hoping to trigger a popular upheaval against the Islamic republic. Attacks on Iranian energy installations at Fars, fuel depot in Tehran, and other civilian targets on June 14 reinforce that if the aim is to destroy Iran's nuclear programme, these strikes are too little. While its conventional military sites are vulnerable to Israeli aerial attacks, Iran's nuclear sites are dispersed across more than 14 sites. Some, like the enrichment facility at Fordow, are built deep underground in mountainous regions. Israel can hit Fordow, but can't damage it irretrievably. The US has the required munitions, but hasn't passed them on to Tel Aviv, experience shows that assassination of nuclear scientists won't even slow down Iran. The technology is homegrown, not dependent on an individual or two. If Israel's aim is to trigger regime change or cause popular upheavals, airstrikes may prove counterproductive. By causing large civilian casualties, they are more likely to antagonise the Iranian people, even those who oppose the regime. A similar assumption of uprising by Iranian Arabs during Saddam Hussein's invasion in 1980 had failed to materialise. Israeli airstrikes might weaken Iran militarily, but not the regime politically, certainly not in the short run. Given Israel's demonstrated military superiority among West Asian powers, Iran is unlikely to be successful in combat. But Iran does not need to win. It simply needs to inflict enough damage for Israel to find the conflict too costly, as it seems to be doing. Domestically, the Iranian regime needs to convince its people that it shall endure. Indeed, if the war is prolonged, the Islamic republic risks reviving domestic turmoil if prevalent economic hardship increases prolonging the war serves Israel badly as well. With the Gaza crisis unresolved, a considerable section of Israeli military is tied down in Occupied Territories. This is quite apart from the economic toll a prolonged conflict will inflict on of a far worse trajectory can't be ruled out. A sizeable segment of the Iranian establishment that wants to end Iran's economic isolation argue that Tehran should develop nuclear weapons capability, but not actually make weapons. Led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, these pragmatists had brought Iran back to nuclear talks with Khamenei's blessing. The hardline national security establishment, led by Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), has been advocating the nuclear route as insurance against foreign schemes of regime change. By exposing the regime's military weakness, Israel may have strengthened the hands of votaries of the nuclear option as a means of regime-survival. Prospect of successful nuclear talks at this moment is remote. Iran could return to the table in a while as a means of getting Trump to rein in Israel. There is almost no chance of Iran conceding either on its missile development programme or on nuclear enrichment. But Tehran may agree to intrusive inspections and a JCPoA-like deal. Alternatively, if Israel perseveres, Iran could stay away from talks altogether, pull out of NPT, and accelerate its pathway to the bomb. Israel's high-risk strategy has made an already unstable region more dangerous. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. How a nudge from Cyrus Mistry helped TCS unlock a USD1 billion opportunity Operation Sindoor, Turkey, Bangladesh played out as India hosted global airlines after 42 years Benchmarked with BSE 1000, this index fund will diversify your bets. But at a cost. How individual bankruptcy law can halt suicides by failed businessmen Explainer: The RBI's LAF corridor and its role in rate transmission Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 32% in 1 year Defence stocks: Black & white, and many shades of grey. 10 stocks with an upside potential of up to 30% Stock Radar: 40% drop from highs! Swiggy stocks make a rounding bottom pattern; time to buy the dip?
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
This powerful nation jumps in Iran Israel war! Sends planes to Tehran, direct challenge to US, Israel due to...
New Delhi: Has China also jumped into the war between Israel and Iran? In fact, the news of the landing of a Chinese cargo plane in Tehran has intensified these speculations. The media report claims that this plane had turned off its transponders, so that it could not be caught by the radar. It is believed that through this, China has supplied a large number of weapons to Iran. The landing of the Chinese cargo plane in Tehran by turning off the transponder in this way indicates a secret operation. Given the strategic partnership and history of military cooperation between China and Iran, it is believed that it may contain military equipment or banned goods. US President Donald Trump has given a direct warning to Iran and warned it of dire consequences. In such a situation, this move of China is being seen as a direct challenge to America. In this war going on between Israel and Iran, China is already standing in favour of Tehran. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian had earlier said that Beijing is closely monitoring Israeli attacks on Iran and opposes actions that violate Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China had also expressed deep concern over the Israeli attacks, referring to Operation Rising Lion as having serious consequences. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in a post on X, 'China is closely monitoring Israeli attacks on Iran and is deeply concerned about the possible serious consequences of the operation. China opposes actions that violate Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and opposes steps that increase tensions and escalate conflict.' China is closely following Israel's attacks on Iran and is deeply concerned about the potential grave consequences of the operations. China opposes actions that violate Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes moves that escalate tensions or enlarge… — Lin Jian 林剑 (@SpoxCHN_LinJian) June 13, 2025
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Germany, France And UK Offer To Hold Talks With Iran About Nuclear Programme
Berlin: Germany, France and Britain are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme in an effort to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. Wadephul, who is on a visit to the Middle East, said he was trying to contribute towards a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, noting that Tehran had previously failed to take the opportunity of constructive talks. "I hope that's still possible," Wadephul told German public broadcaster ARD late on Saturday. "Germany, together with France and Britain are ready. We're offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear programme, I hope (the offer) is accepted." "This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict, that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the state of Israel or to Europe." Wadephul, who is in Oman on Sunday, said the conflict would be ended only when influence is exerted on Iran and Israel from all sides. "There's a shared expectation that within the next week, a serious attempt must be made on both sides to interrupt the spiral of violence," he said. When asked whether he believed the Iranian government could fall, Wadephul said his assumption was that it was not Israel's intention to bring down the administration in Tehran. Turning to Gaza, Wadephul said the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave was unacceptable and urged Israel to allow unrestricted access to aid organisations. "The hunger, the dying, the suffering of the people in Gaza must come to an end," he said, adding that Hamas was to blame for the conflict and that the Islamist group must release hostages held since Hamas-led militants raided Israel in October 2023.
