Egypt staged pro-Palestine protest during Macron’s visit to Gaza border
Egyptian authorities orchestrated protests in Rafah on Tuesday during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the border area with Gaza, sources told Middle East Eye.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, accompanied by Macron, on Tuesday visited the city of Arish in North Sinai, where they met with wounded Palestinians who had been evacuated from Gaza for treatment in neighbouring Egypt.
The visit was part of Macron’s trip to Egypt, which also included a trilateral summit with the King of Jordan and a quadrilateral call that brought the three leaders together with US President Donald Trump.
According to three sources with knowledge of the trip's plan, intelligence and military officials coordinated with tribal leaders in Sinai to prepare and mobilise crowds to welcome Macron, raising banners in support of Sisi and expressing rejection of the Israeli-US plan to forcibly displace Gaza’s residents.
“A state of alert had been raised in all governorates to transport thousands of Egyptians to the cities of Arish and Rafah to demonstrate against Trump's plan to take over the Gaza Strip and displace its population,” said one security source.
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Responsibility for mobilising, transporting, and providing meals to the demonstrators was assumed by two entities affiliated with pro-Sisi businessman and Sinai tribal leader Ibrahim Organi: the Union of Egyptian Tribes and Families, and the Egyptian Front Party, whose leaders include Organi’s son Essam, the security source said.
A source close to Organi also confirmed the same information.
The border protest on Tuesday has been widely reported by Egyptian media as a show of support for Sisi and opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
The scene was chaotic and disorganised, with more than 50 fainting cases reported, a local Sinai source told MEE.
No ambulances were available, although a single ambulance was later brought in. Protesters also tore down banners to protect themselves from the scorching sun.
Seeking Macron's support
Sisi has cracked down on all forms of spontaneous protests and acts of solidarity with Gaza since Israel’s war on the enclave in October 2023.
Over a 100 protesters remain in jail for taking part in protests criticising the war on Gaza and Sisi’s failure to exercise influence to stop the atrocities next door.
During their visit to Arish, the two presidents inspected Arish General Hospital, where some of the patients evacuated from Gaza are being treated.
They also visited the port of Arish and logistical aid warehouses containing hundreds of trucks awaiting permission to enter Gaza, which, according to MEE correspondents and international relief organisations operating in the area, is now facing famine.
An Egyptian diplomatic source involved in coordinating the French president's visit, who requested anonymity, said that Macron’s visit to the border area was an effort by Cairo to rally support for Sisi’s opposition to Trump’s Gaza plan.
"The visit is part of efforts by the Egyptian presidency, foreign ministry, and intelligence services to halt the severe escalation in Gaza,” the source said.
“All crossings and border points have been closed for over 36 days amidst intense military operations, Israeli intransigence in response to Egyptian efforts, and outright rejection of all proposals to resume negotiations.
"This stance has been fully supported by the US administration, creating the impression that a deadlock has been reached."
During Macron’s visit to Arish, the French Embassy in Cairo issued a statement saying that Paris, Cairo, and Amman called for an immediate return to a ceasefire to allow Palestinians to receive protection and large-scale humanitarian aid as swiftly as possible.
The statement also expressed support for Egypt’s plan to reconstruct Gaza, which has been endorsed by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Additionally, it expressed backing for the Gaza reconstruction conference scheduled to be held in Cairo in the near future.
Cairo has presented several ceasefire proposals, the most recent of which was discussed during Macron’s visit.
It proposed the release of nine captives held by Hamas, including American-Israeli soldier Idan Alexander, and three bodies of detainees holding US citizenship, in exchange for the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners, including 150 serving life sentences.
The proposal also included the release of 2,200 detainees from Gaza, an extension of the truce for 70 days, resumption of negotiations for the second phase, the entry of aid and fuel, the reopening of crossings, and the provision of complete information on remaining detainees.
Former Egyptian permanent representative to the United Nations, Moataz Ahmedine, said Macron’s visit is important not only for Cairo’s Gaza efforts but also for France, which seeks to boost its arms exports to Egypt.
“Egypt had previously saved the Rafale factory with a fighter jet deal, encouraging other countries to follow suit,” he said.
“This comes amid Macron’s efforts to promote French defence products, a key contributor to the French economy amid an intensifying global economic crisis, exacerbated by Trump's reckless policies.”
Following its order of 30 Rafale fighter jets in May 2021, Egypt became the top importer of French arms between 2012 and 2021, according to an annual report by the French parliament.
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