Irish activist and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, along with a group of individuals, has been detained by Egyptian authorities while participating in the Global March to Gaza. Their passports have been confiscated, and they are being pressured to board a bus without knowing its destination. Despite the situation, they are refusing to comply with the authorities' demands, as reported by a statement from People Before Profit.

Another participant in the march, Wicklow county councillor Mark Barry from the Social Democrats, was stopped at a checkpoint in Ismailia but was not detained. Murphy shared a video on social media showing protesters chanting in support of Palestine and expressing their refusal to board the deportation bus.

According to Murphy, the Egyptian authorities are cracking down on the #GreatMarchToGaza, preventing their peaceful journey to Gaza. He urged supporters to contact their governments, including Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris, to intervene and allow them to continue their march.

People Before Profit national secretary Matt Collins called on the Irish Government to demand the release of the detained individuals, emphasizing that they are advocating for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza peacefully.

Paul Murphy is among 50 Irish participants in the global March To Gaza, joining individuals from 54 countries in a march from Cairo to the Rafah Crossing at the Egypt-Palestine border. The group aims to raise awareness and demand the allowance of aid into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians.

Irish politicians, including Jennifer Whitmore TD, have expressed deep concern over the reports from Egypt and called for immediate action from the Irish government to ensure the safety and freedom of the detained Irish citizens. They have urged the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to contact the Egyptian government and secure the return of the passports and safe passage for the activists.

The Egyptian embassy has not yet provided a comment on the situation.