American protesters in Egypt demanding to march to Gaza were left furious after the country’s authorities refused to let them cross its border into the war-torn area. 

The demonstrators travelled to the region over the weekend in a bid to cross the Egyptian border to Gaza and deliver aid.

Dozen of protesters have been rounded-up onto buses and deported from Egypt, with activists claiming they have been ‘violently dragged’ and ‘beaten’. 

But shocking footage captured before the chaos erupted shows how the stubborn protesters refused to abide by Egyptian law, which has regulatory controls for foreigners wishing to visit the Gaza Strip.

Police begged the group to ‘please respect our country and our law’, but the activists continued to push authorities to let them march.

An officer explains they will arrange for transportation back to Cairo, but an ignorant demonstrator yells out: ‘We can do it in America, why can’t we do it here?’

‘What are you doing hear?’ the officer hits back. ‘Again, it’s our law, okay?’

Egyptian authorities previously stated that foreign protesters must coordinate with them and obtain permission prior to visiting the border.

American protesters demanding to march to Gaza were left furious after Egyptian authorities ask them to respect local law

American protesters demanding to march to Gaza were left furious after Egyptian authorities ask them to respect local law 

An officer explained they would arrange for transportation back to Cairo, but an ignorant demonstrator yelled out: 'We can do it in America, why can't we do it here?'

An officer explained they would arrange for transportation back to Cairo, but an ignorant demonstrator yelled out: ‘We can do it in America, why can’t we do it here?’

Demonstrators travelled to the region over the weekend in a bid to cross the Egyptian border to Gaza and deliver aid

Demonstrators travelled to the region over the weekend in a bid to cross the Egyptian border to Gaza and deliver aid

Thousands of people from 80 foreign countries began to arrive in the Egyptian capital on Thursday, with the intention of marching to the Rafah crossing in Gaza. 

The effort was part of the Global March to Gaza – a protest against Israel’s aid blockade on Gaza.

Israel imposed a full 11-week humanitarian blockade on Gaza on March 2, cutting off food, medical supplies and other aid amid its ongoing conflict with the enclave. 

Footage captured on the ground in Egypt shows massive groups of demonstrators blocking the country’s roads, in scenes reminiscent of marches held on home soil.

Drivers furiously honked their horns as demonstrators filled the streets chanting ‘Free Palestine’ and waving the Palestinian flag.

The group’s actions frustrated locals, police and other western tourists who were on holiday and looking to experience Egypt’s rich culture. 

Some clips showed protesters being dragged away from road blocks, with locals even accused of whipping them. 

It is unclear how long the self-described ‘peaceful’ protesters disobeyed direct orders from police before things turned violent.

Egyptian authorities and civilians forcibly removed the Gaza aid activists from the road and violently dragged them onto buses, video shows.

One protester, who spoke with an American accent, exclaimed: ‘There’s people in masks dragging people out.’ Others can be heard chanting: ‘Free Palestine’. 

A protester is seen offering bottled water to armed Egyptian police after the activists refused to obey local law

A protester is seen offering bottled water to armed Egyptian police after the activists refused to obey local law

Large numbers of protesters were rounded-up onto buses and deported from Egypt

Large numbers of protesters were rounded-up onto buses and deported from Egypt

One protester, who spoke with an American accent, exclaimed: 'There's people in masks dragging people out'

One protester, who spoke with an American accent, exclaimed: ‘There’s people in masks dragging people out’

Around 4,000 volunteers landed in Cairo last week, before taking buses to the city of Arish in the north of the country’s Sinai Peninsula.

From there, they hoped to start their planned march, on a roughly 30-mile route, to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on the Gaza border.

But organizers said that several dozen activists were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, which is around a three-hour drive from Arish.

A protester posted a video to social media while on a bus heading there, saying: ‘This is an emergency.

‘We have just been violently dragged into the buses here at the first checkpoint on the way to Ismailia.

‘We were sitting quietly and not doing anything. We were debating that we would leave soon, in taxis back to Cairo because we did not break any law.

‘And all of a sudden, several people stormed in and they started to push people and drag them violently outside.

Organizers said that several dozen activists (pictured) were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailia

Organizers said that several dozen activists (pictured) were stopped on the edge of Cairo as they attempted to reach the Suez Canal city of Ismailia

One activist posted a video to social media (pictured) while on a bus heading there, saying: 'This is an emergency'

One activist posted a video to social media (pictured) while on a bus heading there, saying: ‘This is an emergency’

‘They have beaten people. I have seen one woman that was beaten in her face in front of me. They didn’t leave time to grab the luggage or anything. 

‘So, this is one of the Secret Service people that was just walking in here. I have to stop this livestream now – we are in danger. This is an emergency. We need to help.’

Most of the activists were ordered onto buses back to the capital after several hours of questioning, but some remain in custody.

‘We were blocked for six to seven hours before security forces violently dispersed our group,’ one organizer said.

At least one activist was expelled from Egypt, several sources said, adding to dozens more were denied entry or expelled in the run-up to the march.

Egyptian authorities have not commented on the reported expulsions.

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

Makeshift tents lined up in the al-Makusi area of Gaza City on June 17, 2025 as Palestinians struggle to survive without proper shelter, food and clean water

Makeshift tents lined up in the al-Makusi area of Gaza City on June 17, 2025 as Palestinians struggle to survive without proper shelter, food and clean water

The foreign ministry had warned that while Egypt backs efforts to put ‘pressure on Israel’ to lift its Gaza blockade, any foreign delegations intending to visit the border area must coordinated in advance with Egyptian embassies or government entities.

Foreign ministry officials also underlined the need to follow official procedures to ensure safety and security.

But organizers say they coordinated with Egyptian authorities, and have urged the government to release those detained.

Groups of foreign participants were being held at checkpoints, and sit-ins had begun at two locations on the road leading to the Rafah crossing, organizers said.

Officials at Cairo International Airport said new directives were issued to airlines requiring all passengers travelling to Egypt between June 12 and 16 to hold confirmed return tickets.

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