Thousands of activists from over 50 countries are converging in Cairo, Egypt, to participate in the Global March to Gaza, a civic initiative aimed at challenging Israel’s ongoing siege and genocide of Palestinians.
The march, which plans to see 2,000–3,000 participants travel from Cairo to the Rafah border crossing via the North Sinai city of Arish, seeks to pressure governments worldwide to end Israel’s military campaign and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Organizers emphasize the movement’s apolitical nature, guided by principles of “justice, human dignity, and peace,” with endorsements from over 400 groups, including the International Healthworkers Alliance for Justice and Codepink Women for Peace.
Egyptian authorities have posed significant obstacles to the march, detaining and deporting dozens of foreign nationals at Cairo Airport.
Algerian lawyer Fatiha Rouibi reported that 40 Algerian nationals were detained for 24 hours before being released and allowed to leave Egypt.
Similarly, Moroccan and Turkish participants faced deportations, with some Turkish citizens apprehended outside their Cairo hotel for carrying Palestinian flags.
Despite these setbacks, organizers remain committed, stating, “We hope Egypt will allow us in,” as expressed by Wael Nowar, a spokesperson for the parallel Sumud Convoy, which involves 1,500 people traveling by land across North Africa to reach Egypt’s border with Gaza.
Egyptian officials have cited security and sovereignty concerns, warning that access to North Sinai requires prior permission, which has not been officially granted.
The march aims to highlight the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel’s aid blockade since March 2025 has led to famine conditions, with 57 children dead due to food shortage and 71,000 under five facing acute malnutrition.
Saif AbuKeshek, chair of the march’s international committee, stated, “Citizens are not okay with them just being silenced [or the] silence toward the genocide.”
Activists like Hannah Claire Smith from the United States emphasized the urgency: “So this is a way for us to escalate. It’s a way for us to approach action in a new way and hopefully be taken seriously by the governments that remain complicit or silent in this genocide.”
Organizers plan to camp at the Rafah border from June 15 to 19, leaving tents as aid for Gazans, while respecting Egypt’s sovereignty and avoiding forceful entry into the strip.