In Cairo, the « world march towards Gaza » compromised by the authorities – Liberation

There « World march to Gaza » has not yet started that she already has lead in the wing. This international movement-3,000 participants from 52 delegations from around the world-hopes to go by bus from Cairo to El-Arich, to Egyptian North-Sinai, then to foot the remaining 50 kilometers to the Rafah border post, in order to claim the release of Humanitarian aid, severely judged by Israel. But the pacifist approach, which harvested the support of former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and footballer Karim Benzema, risks never from Cairo.

Thursday, several dozen activists were arrested by the Egyptian authorities. The French delegation, which has around 500 registrants, has not been spared. “Several of us have been arrested in their hotels, others at Cairo airport. Binational people, or arriving with a sleeping bag, were particularly targeted. A dozen French nationals have already been expelled ”, Reports Catherine Le Scoan-Quéré, spokesperson for the French delegation and doctor who went several times in Gaza in recent months. According to our information, a Franco-Algerian and a Franco-Moroccan was arrested on Wednesday June 11 by the Egyptian authorities when they arrived at the airport. Their phones and luggage were searched. They have since been forced to take a plane ticket back to France.

This reaction from the Egyptian authorities was predictable. Since the start of the war, the authoritarian regime President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi -which however denounces Israeli abuses and hosts multiple truce negotiations-severely represses any pro-Palestine gathering. A few weeks after the start of the Israeli operation, two demonstrations took place in Cairo: one, authorized and supervised by the State, and the other, unofficial and prohibited. During the second, and for the first time in ten years, demonstrators walked in Place Tahrir, a symbol of the 2011 uprising. Several of them were then arrested and placed in detention. Since then, no major gathering has taken place.

Upstream of the « world march to Gaza », the organizers tried to obtain the necessary authorizations. But their missives addressed to the various diplomatic representations of Egypt have remained a dead letter. In a message addressed to the French deputy LFI Thomas Portes, that Release was able to consult, the Egypt Embassy in France, however, writes that the requests for authorization of the march did not « Unfortunately not received a favorable opinion from the Egyptian authorities »justifying this refusal by conditions « Dangerous that does not guarantee the safety of participants ». Wednesday evening, the Egyptian authorities, to whom Israel asked to block the walkers en route to Gaza, had already underlined « The importance of compliance with regulatory controls put in place to ensure the safety of delegations on visit », while reaffirming their « Continuous efforts to put an end to the attack on the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian disaster which strikes more than 2 million Palestinians ».

Although the departure to El-Arich must take place on Friday morning, the organizers do not lose hope. “The Egyptian bodies ask us for the double authorization of the French Embassy in Egypt, and that of Egypt in France. We therefore relaunched them, and they seem to the rather favorable principle. One thing is certain : We will not leave without the necessary authorizations. Our wish is to support Gaza, not to go beyond Egyptian laws ”, Assures Catherine Le Scoan-Quéré. Others are much more pessimistic: « I do not think that anyone understanding the complex dynamics of the region could have thought that this walk could have taken placeestimates a source from a well -informed UN agency on the situation in Gaza. But it is clear, for 48 hours, that Egypt will not allow any type of gathering, even for a short media moment, in order to show popular support for the lifting of the seat and the delivery of the aid. « 

Sam, a French participant who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday, explains being « Cerned » by Egyptian security forces in his hotel. “At the bottom of the building, there are soldiers, men in suit armed with machine guns. They are scrutinizing everyone, you feel spied on. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of my hotel, I will certainly be stopped soon. I don’t have a lawyer, I went to myself. ”

Despite bad news, Johan, 29, is about to leave. “Right now I’m walking my dogs one last time, then heading for the airport. Given what’s going on, I’m not going to take my sleeping bag and my tent. Am I afraid ? No, my only risk is a few hours of detention and a return plane. It is nothing compared to the genocide against which we manifest. ” Training manager, following the small jobs on the left and right lately, this resident of Aix-en-Provence has put all her meager savings in this project: “Doing nothing is to be an accomplice. There, at least, I feel useful. « 

Meanwhile, a « convoy of resilience », made up of dozens of cars and bus, Has set in motion from Tunisalso in the direction of Rafah. Leaving on June 9, bringing together 7,000 participants from all over the Maghreb, he is crossing Libya, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by the inhabitants. He plans to arrive in Egypt on Thursday. Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz called on Egypt to prevent this. Qualifying the participants of the convoy of « Jihadists », He warned that if the Egyptian authorities did not block them, the Israeli army « Will take care of it ».