People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has again been detained by Egyptian authorities today, just days after he was first arrested on Friday.
In a statement published on social media today by People Before Profit, the Dublin South‑West TD said he had returned to Abdeen police station in Cairo at 12.30pm Egyptian time on the advice of the Irish embassy.
“I have been detained in the Abdeen police station in Cairo,” he said.
“They took my passport again, had me talk to the secret police and left me in a room with an interpreter. They claim they are looking for my phone.”
Murphy stated that when he attempted to leave the station, he was prevented from doing so.
“I just attempted to leave but they said that I cannot leave,” he said.
“I understand other march participants have also been detained.”
According to People Before Profit, Murphy was accompanied by other participants in the Global March to Gaza when he was detained for a second time. His passport was reportedly taken again by police, and he remains unable to exit the station.
Murphy had been arrested last Friday by Egyptian authorities during an attempted entry into Gaza, along with around 50 other international activists. The group had been travelling to the Rafah border crossing as part of a 48‑kilometre march through the Sinai desert.
Earlier this week, following his release, Murphy posted a video message saying all Irish participants had been freed but that “thousands” of others remained in detention or had been subjected to violence.
“Some of the thousands of others were subject to significant violence by the police,” he said.
“I witnessed some of it myself, and some people are still detained.”
He thanked those who had advocated for his release.
“Thanks a million for all the support we had last night,” he said.
“People contacting the government, making noise and putting pressure on. Hopefully that did contribute to us being released.”
Murphy reaffirmed his support for the march’s goals, describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “forced starvation.”
“Our focus remains on calling for an end to the blockade of Gaza and the forced starvation of the people in Gaza,” he said.
“Half a million people on the verge of death now due to Israel not allowing in basically any food, water or medical supplies since March.”
He described Israel’s actions as “disgusting, outrageous behaviour” and accused the Israeli government of a “terrorist attack on Iran.”
“We just urge everybody to rise up for Palestine,” he said.
“Rise up against the terrorist state of Israel globally. Thanks.”
In previous statements, Murphy alleged that the earlier detention of the group had taken place at the request of the Israeli government, and that their phones and passports had been confiscated.
A video from the day of the initial arrest showed participants chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The wider Global March to Gaza, of which Murphy is a participant, includes around 3,000 individuals from several countries, seeking to highlight the ongoing blockade of Gaza and to call for increased humanitarian access.