Irish politician released by Egyptian authorities
Paul Murphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, had first been detained on Friday while attempting to march to the Rafah crossing into Gaza as part of a large demonstration to deliver aid into the blockaded enclave.
He was one of a number of Irish people who were expected to take part in the march.
Paul has been detained again, with other participants in the Global March to Gaza.
On advice of the Irish Embassy, he went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone. His passport was taken again & he was prevented from leaving the station. pic.twitter.com/GdDZhYyhsv
— Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025
The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported.
All Irish people who were detained were then released but some did not have their phones returned.
On Monday, Mr Murphy went to a police station in Cairo to retrieve his phone.
People Before Profit said this was done on the advice of the Irish embassy.
He then sent messages from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he could not leave.
He then attempted to leave, but the party said he and others were prevented from doing so.
From Paul: 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo. On the advice of the Irish embassy I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took."
— Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025
'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo,' the party quotes Mr Murphy as saying.
'On the advice of the Irish embassy, I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took.
'They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone.
'I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand that other march participants have also been detained.'
(cntd) "They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand other march participants have also been detained'
— Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025
Mr Murphy's partner and Dublin councillor Jess Spear asked the Irish Government to intervene. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance.
People Before Profit said after 8pm Irish time that Mr Murphy had been released with his passport, and is to 'fly out' on Tuesday morning.
The Global March to Gaza is a civilian movement that aims to march from Egypt to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and increase pressure so that vital supplies to the besieged region are unblocked.
A blockade on Gaza was imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas earlier this year.
This has deepened fears of famine, while a new Israeli-US aid system has been marred by violence.
It comes as Israel's 20-month military campaign in Gaza continues, during which an estimated 55,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages on October 7 2023.
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North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Irish politician released by Egyptian authorities
Paul Murphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, had first been detained on Friday while attempting to march to the Rafah crossing into Gaza as part of a large demonstration to deliver aid into the blockaded enclave. He was one of a number of Irish people who were expected to take part in the march. Paul has been detained again, with other participants in the Global March to Gaza. On advice of the Irish Embassy, he went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone. His passport was taken again & he was prevented from leaving the station. — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported. All Irish people who were detained were then released but some did not have their phones returned. On Monday, Mr Murphy went to a police station in Cairo to retrieve his phone. People Before Profit said this was done on the advice of the Irish embassy. He then sent messages from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he could not leave. He then attempted to leave, but the party said he and others were prevented from doing so. From Paul: 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo. On the advice of the Irish embassy I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took." — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo,' the party quotes Mr Murphy as saying. 'On the advice of the Irish embassy, I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took. 'They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. 'I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand that other march participants have also been detained.' (cntd) "They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand other march participants have also been detained' — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 Mr Murphy's partner and Dublin councillor Jess Spear asked the Irish Government to intervene. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance. People Before Profit said after 8pm Irish time that Mr Murphy had been released with his passport, and is to 'fly out' on Tuesday morning. The Global March to Gaza is a civilian movement that aims to march from Egypt to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and increase pressure so that vital supplies to the besieged region are unblocked. A blockade on Gaza was imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas earlier this year. This has deepened fears of famine, while a new Israeli-US aid system has been marred by violence. It comes as Israel's 20-month military campaign in Gaza continues, during which an estimated 55,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages on October 7 2023.
South Wales Guardian
5 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Irish politician released by Egyptian authorities
Paul Murphy, a TD (MP) for People Before Profit-Solidarity, had first been detained on Friday while attempting to march to the Rafah crossing into Gaza as part of a large demonstration to deliver aid into the blockaded enclave. He was one of a number of Irish people who were expected to take part in the march. Paul has been detained again, with other participants in the Global March to Gaza. On advice of the Irish Embassy, he went to a Cairo police station to retrieve his phone. His passport was taken again & he was prevented from leaving the station. — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated before he and others were put on a bus to Cairo airport, where they believed they would be deported. All Irish people who were detained were then released but some did not have their phones returned. On Monday, Mr Murphy went to a police station in Cairo to retrieve his phone. People Before Profit said this was done on the advice of the Irish embassy. He then sent messages from the station that he was concerned that his passport had been taken again and was told he could not leave. He then attempted to leave, but the party said he and others were prevented from doing so. From Paul: 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo. On the advice of the Irish embassy I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took." — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 'I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo,' the party quotes Mr Murphy as saying. 'On the advice of the Irish embassy, I went to the station at 12.30pm Egyptian time to enquire about my phone that they took. 'They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. 'I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand that other march participants have also been detained.' (cntd) "They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone. I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave. I understand other march participants have also been detained' — Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 16, 2025 Mr Murphy's partner and Dublin councillor Jess Spear asked the Irish Government to intervene. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance. People Before Profit said after 8pm Irish time that Mr Murphy had been released with his passport, and is to 'fly out' on Tuesday morning. The Global March to Gaza is a civilian movement that aims to march from Egypt to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and increase pressure so that vital supplies to the besieged region are unblocked. A blockade on Gaza was imposed by Israel when it ended a ceasefire with Hamas earlier this year. This has deepened fears of famine, while a new Israeli-US aid system has been marred by violence. It comes as Israel's 20-month military campaign in Gaza continues, during which an estimated 55,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages on October 7 2023.
Sky News
5 hours ago
- Sky News
Irish politician faces deportation from Egypt after trying to cross into Gaza
An Irish politician who was detained in Egypt trying to cross into Gaza says the police were violent towards the group after seizing his phone. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD (MP) Paul Murphy was part of a large demonstration attempting to march to the Rafah crossing in a bid to get aid into the region. The opposition politician said his phone and passport were confiscated on Friday before he was put on a bus to Cairo airport for deportation. Footage of the seconds before his phone was seized shows authorities forcibly dragging protesters away from the sit-down demonstration. Ireland's deputy premier said several Irish citizens who were detained have now been released. Mr Murphy confirmed he was among the released protesters, posting a photo on his Facebook page saying he was back in Cairo and "meeting shortly to decide next steps". In a message from Mr Murphy after he was detained, posted online by his social media team, he said: "I'm ok, but they still have my phone. "Egyptian police say we're going to airport but this isn't the road we came on because there are 1000s of marchers on the streets. They're taking us south past a lake, then west towards Cairo. "Violence got worse after they seized my phone. "One American woman in my group was badly kicked & beaten, and had her hijab torn off." Sky News has contacted Egypt's police regarding Mr Murphy's claims of violence towards the group. Mr Murphy previously said other Irish citizen were among those who had been stopped from entering Gaza. "The world has watched a horrific genocide for the past 20 months. Since March, a total attempt of starvation," he added. "And that this is a peaceful march to demand that it be ended and demand that western governments stop their complicity." Appeal to foreign affairs minister Mr Murphy's partner, Councillor Jess Spear, had previously appealed to Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister and deputy premier Simon Harris to make a public statement on Mr Murphy's detention. She expressed "relief" that the group had been released from detention. 3:59 She said: "However, they still want to reach Rafah to try and get humanitarian aid into Gaza. That has been the sole purpose of being in Egypt. "Paul has appealed to Tanaiste Simon Harris to put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to let the marchers reach Rafah. The situation of the people of Gaza worsens by the day as they suffer starvation imposed by Israel."
