Egypt deports dozens planning march to Gaza

CAIRO — Egyptian authorities have deported dozens of foreign nationals who arrived in Egypt to take part in a pro-Palestinian march and dozens more face deportation, the organizers and airport and security sources said on Thursday. Hundreds of people came to Egypt this week for the Global March to Gaza, an international initiative intended to exert pressure for an end to an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis there.

Organizers said people from 80 countries were set to begin the march to Egypt's Rafah Crossing with Gaza, and confirmed some had been deported or were detained at the airport.

Three airport sources told Reuters at least 73 foreign nationals had been deported on a flight to Istanbul on Thursday after authorities said they violated entry protocols, and that about 100 more were at the airport awaiting deportation.

The Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. It had earlier said visits to the Rafah border region must be coordinated in advance with Egyptian embassies or government entities, and underlined the need to follow official procedures to ensure safety and security.

The organizers said in a statement late on Wednesday that they had complied with all the stated requirements. "In the two months leading up to the march, organizers coordinated directly with Egyptian embassies in over 15 countries and with the Foreign Ministry to ensure transparency at every stage," the organizers said, urging Egypt to free all those who had been detained.

Israel's defense minister told the Israeli military on Wednesday to prevent demonstrators from entering Gaza from Egypt, and said the march was a threat to Israeli and regional security.

Egyptian officials have said the Rafah crossing is closed by Israel on the Gaza side and want international pressure applied on Israel to open it to allow in aid.

Reporting by Cairo bureau, Editing by Timothy Heritage.