A couple of dozen protestors gathered on the steps of the Journalists Syndicate on Sunday evening to express their opposition to the recent passage of an Israeli military vessel through the Suez Canal, as well as reports that claimed last week that a ship bearing military goods had docked at the port of Alexandria.
A video clip of the military ship in the Suez was filmed and circulated widely on social media in recent days.
Condemning both events, the protesters chanted, “A ship passed through Egypt to strike and kill our people,” and “Egypt is a partner, Egypt is a partner, down with all of America’s dogs.” They also called for authorities to free other individuals detained in relation to protesting or other actions taken in solidarity with Palestinians, who have lived through over a year of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
The impromptu protest was one of a few demonstrations that have been held on the Journalists Syndicate stairs and elsewhere in Cairo in which members of the public have sought to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and demand more action from the government. Authorities have conducted arrests at protests or even prior to the staging of protest action, holding detainees pending investigation into charges of illegal protest or similar accusations.
A number of lawyers and activists submitted a petition to the Public Prosecution last week, informing them of reports that claimed that a vessel, the Kathrin, had docked at the port of Alexandria. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), which campaigns for the enforcement of an economic blockade on Israel, alleged that the ship was bearing explosives and was bound for Israeli ports. After several countries refused to let the ship berth in their ports, the Kathrin unloaded and reloaded cargo in Alexandria, BDS said.
Denying the veracity of the claims, the Egyptian Transport Ministry said that the ship was bearing cargo bound for the Military Production Ministry, while Egypt’s military spokesperson issued a statement to deny that Egypt had assisted Israel in “military operations.”