AL-ARISH: Egyptian authorities on Friday blocked access to the Sinai peninsula, where it stepped up security, to prevent a march from Cairo to Gaza.
The march was due to leave from Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Saturday to protest the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, and call for the right of return of Palestinian refugees and the release of all Palestinian prisoners.
"Peace Bridge," one of the main access routes to Sinai from mainland Egypt, has been closed to all but residents of the peninsula.
The army also stepped up security around the peninsula, a security official said.
The march is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the day Israel was established, referred to in Arabic as the "Nakba," or "catastrophe."
On Thursday, an interior ministry statement affirmed Egypt’s support for Palestinians but urged activists to cancel the march to avoid any risks it may pose for Egypt at this critical stage.
Activist Ragia Omran told Daily News Egypt that a group of artists, musicians and activist on a bus heading towards Shiekh Zwaid village, 20 Kilometers off Al-Arish, heading to the Rafah border cossing was stopped by Egyptian army and forced back near the Kherba check point.
"Since Egyptians are not allowed in the part of their country, we discovered that our soil is not that free," said Omran.
"Despite the bitter feelings this caused it proves even more that no liberation of Egypt without liberating Palestine," she added.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in central Cairo on Friday to demand the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the severance of ties with the Jewish state.
"Millions of martyrs to Jerusalem," the protesters chanted as army and police officers stepped up security around the building housing the embassy. –Additional reporting by Mai Shams El-Din for Daily News Egypt.
