Pro-Palestinian activists detained in Cairo while marching for Gaza aid

FINAL CHECKPOINT

- MONISHKA GOVENDER monishka.govender2inl.co.za

OVER 200 international pro-Palestinian activists, including notable figures like Mandla Mandela, were arrested in Cairo, while attempting to march to the Rafah border crossing to demand increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Among the detainees were activists from Algeria, Australia, France, Morocco, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States and South Africa.

Mandela, Chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, was among the activists who were detained at a checkpoint for over six hours on June 13.

Basheerah Soomar, the head of the South African delegation for Global March to Gaza, was among 53 South Africans, who travelled to Cairo, Egypt, as part of the delegation.

“About half of us left South Africa for Cairo on June 11 and the remainder left on June 12. Seven South Africans were detained at the airport upon arrival. They were kept for a few hours without being told why they were there, along with activists from other countries, including Greece and Spain.

“Our embassy put immediate pressure on the authorities to demand reasons for their detention and release. The authorities could not give a clear answer and eventually allowed them into Cairo where they rejoined the bigger group,” said Soomar.

She said after the issue at the airport, none of their delegates were detained again but most of them had their passports forcibly removed at various tollgates as they were leaving Cairo to travel to Ismailia, a city in north-eastern Egypt.