People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy was detained by authorities in Egypt on Friday afternoon along with a group of people who intended to travel through the country to reach the Rafah crossing on the Global March to Gaza.
The Egyptian authorities confiscated their passports. Mr Murphy was broadcasting live on X on Friday afternoon when it appears his phone was taken from him. He later released a pre-recorded message from the same account.
“I have been detained by the Egyptian authorities like hundreds of others and I am unable to provide any updates,” he said. A message was subsequently posted to the account confirming he was OK but his phone had been taken.
The TD was attempting to participate in a 50km non-violent protest walk from Egypt which is expected to arrive at the Rafah crossing on Sunday. “We know the people of Gaza are being starved. We wanted the blockade to end and the aid to enter.”
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Wicklow county councillor Mark Barry, of the Social Democrats, is also on the march. He was not detained but was turned around at a checkpoint in Ismailia.
Mr Murphy’s partner Cllr Jess Spear appealed for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to call on the Egyptian authorities to “release Paul and all the others detained and to let them continue their humanitarian mission to Gaza”.
She said on Friday evening she was concerned that Mr Harris had made no public statement on the matter. “It is a serious matter for a member of the Dáil to be detained in Egypt and forcibly deported just because he was participating in a peaceful march to try and get humanitarian aid into starving people in Gaza”.
Co Clare woman Maureen Almai (66) travelled to Cairo on Thursday and intends to begin the walk across the Sinai Desert to the Rafah crossing on Saturday morning.
The nurse said that she witnessed people being forcibly removed from busses with some having their passports and phones confiscated. She said at least 11 Irish people were detained in Egypt with two others being hospitalised suffering from heat stroke.
“Currently many of those attempting to protest were detained, some had phones and passports confiscated. There was a massive group of people who were forcibly removed from buses,” she told The Irish Times, speaking from Cairo.
“Demonstrators who remained at the first checkpoint at Ismaelia to maintain a vigil are now being sent back to Cairo on buses.”
Ms Almai, who previously volunteered as a nurse in Cambodia, Thailand, Sudan and Ethiopia, says the people of Gaza are living in a “constant nightmare”.
“The fear that the people of Gaza are living with every day is far worse than anything that I might feel. I would feel much worse if I didn’t do anything,” she said.
“They are living in a constant nightmare situation. This trip is a very small part of my life compared to what their lives are like.”
In a statement the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland in Egypt said are closely monitoring the situation.
“Embassy officials are engaging with the relevant local authorities and are in contact with EU and other partners regarding the situation,” it said in a statement.
“The Department is in contact with a number of citizens and is providing advice and guidance.
“As set out in our travel advice, the vicinity of the Rafah border crossing is particularly dangerous at the moment and the border crossing is currently closed.”
In a message posted on X before his phone was confiscated, Mr Murphy said it looked like the Egyptian authorities were trying to prevent the march. He appealed to the Tánaiste to pressure the Egyptian government to allow it to go ahead.
Mr Murphy is one of around 50 Irish people who is participating in the civilian-led protest march.
People from 54 countries are taking part, and will march from Cairo to the Rafah crossing at the border of Egypt and Palestine demanding aid be allowed in.
Jennifer Whitmore TD said in a statement: “It is disturbing to hear reports of Irish citizens having their passports seized by the Egyptian authorities and attempts being made to deport them.
“It is very important that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste contact the Egyptian government immediately and insist that Irish citizens have their passports returned and are allowed free and safe passage.”
The Egyptian embassy has been contacted for comment.
