Activists taking part in the Global March to Gaza have been violently blocked by Egyptian authorities as they’ve attempted to make their way to the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. Since the international effort to break the Israeli siege launched last week, members of the convoy have been beaten, arrested, had their passports confiscated, and have been deported. Reports on the ground say “thugs” paid by the government of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have attacked the convoy. The international group of thousands include members of parliament from Ireland, Turkey and South Africa. A video emerged over the weekend of Turkish MP Faruk Dinç with a bloodied head following an attack on the convoy. Security forces in Libya have also blocked the activists.
Massive marches in solidarity with the convoy and with Gaza took place over the weekend, including in Belgium, France, Brazil and the Netherlands, where about 150,000 rallied in The Hague.
Meanwhile, the last three Gaza Freedom Flotilla activists in Israeli custody have been deported to Jordan.