About-Face: Egypt Deports Activists Who Tried to Reach Gaza Border

Less than 24 hours after announcing it would not allow the convoy that departed from Tunisia to pass through Egyptian territory and reach the Gaza Strip border, Egypt began deporting the convoy activists back to Morocco.

Deportation of convoy activists by Egyptian immigration agents, photo without credit.

According to reports from the field, Egypt carried out delays and arrests at Cairo International Airport. More than thirty activists who flew with the intention of joining the convoy in Egyptian territory were returned to their country following failure to obtain permits from Egyptian authorities, while additional activists were sent back toward Morocco by bus.

The convoy, called the "Soumoud Convoy" or "Resistance Convoy," departed on June 9th from Tunisia and included approximately 1,000-1,500 participants from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and other countries.

Egypt announced yesterday that it would not allow the convoy to pass through its territory and reach the Gaza border, according to the Egyptians this was due to "failure to submit proper requests for permits by the operating organizations."

According to Egyptian data, there is no permission to enter Sinai without a permit, due to "maintaining national security" in the sensitive border area. Additionally, ministers in Egypt clarified that the policy will continue against any attempt to bring in workers and activists contrary to the law.