Egypt bans pro-Gaza march on its territory

Cairo on Monday rejected a request by international activisits to organise a march to the Gaza Strip via Egypt to mark one year since an Israeli attack on the enclave.

Cairo on Monday rejected a request by international activisits to organise a march to the Gaza Strip via Egypt to mark one year since an Israeli attack on the enclave.

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"Some international organisations have requested permission for a solidarity march -- the Gaza Freedom March -- into the Gaza Strip," the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Egypt finds it difficult to cooperate with this march considering the sensitive situation in the Gaza Strip," which faces a stringent Israeli blockade, the statement said.

It warned that "any attempts to violate the law or public order by any group whether local or foreign on Egyptian soil will be dealt with in conformity with the law."

Over 1,000 international delegates from 42 countries have signed up to join the Gaza Freedom March which was due to enter Gaza via Egypt during the last week of December.