Gaza march activists say participants in Egypt beaten, detained

CAIRO – Organisers of a march to the Egyptian border with Gaza said on June 17 that three participants were abducted by plain-clothes officers in Cairo amid a wave of arbitrary detentions, deportations and abuse by security forces.

Egypt’s interior and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to the allegations. Reuters could not independently verify the reported detentions or conditions.

The Global March to Gaza, launched in June, brought over 4,000 activists from more than 80 countries to Egypt in an attempt to peacefully approach the Rafah border crossing and draw attention to Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

Since their arrival, dozens of participants said they have faced airport interrogations, deportations and roadblocks preventing access to the Sinai Peninsula, which provides the land route to Gaza.

In a statement on June 17, organisers said three international participants were forcibly taken from a Cairo cafe on June 16 by security officers who did not identify themselves.

Those named were Mr Jonas Selhi and Mr Huthayfa Abuserriya, both from Norway, and Mr Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin and one of the march’s organisers.

The statement said that according to Mr Selhi, all three men were blindfolded, beaten and interrogated. Mr Abukeshek, he said, faced especially severe abuse.

His whereabouts remain unknown, while Mr Selhi and Mr Abuserriya have since been deported to Norway, organisers said.

Two security sources denied to Reuters that any detainees were treated violently, as long as they adhered to procedures and security instructions until their deportation.

The sources said that approximately 400 people have been deported, while fewer than 30 remain awaiting deportation and are being held.

“We urge the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Saif Abukeshek and all other detained march participants,” the statement said, adding that the group had suspended its Egypt-based plans and made efforts to coordinate with the authorities.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry had previously said that travel to the Rafah area required prior approval to ensure safety. Organisers say they sought to coordinate through proper channels. REUTERS