Pro-Palestine protest erupts in Cairo’s Tahrir Square

A march in solidarity with Palestinians reached Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday, the epicentre of Egypt’s 2011 pro-democracy revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, demanding the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow aid into Gaza amid an ongoing Israeli onslaught in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Thousands of people broke through security barriers to reach the iconic square. Some people were heard chanting anti-government slogans and invoking Arab armies to act to stop the Israeli bombing of Gaza. Protesters demanded the closure of the Israeli embassy and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. They also called for the peace treaties between Egypt and Israel to be scrapped. Lawyers and pro-Palestine activists posted footage on social media showing thousands taking part in the protest, carrying Palestinian flags. Since Wednesday, the state has been involved in some street actions, where civil servants were ordered by the authorities or mobilised by the security services-run Nation’s Future Party to hold public gatherings, to support Sisi’s “defiant stand in defence of Egypt’s national security“. However, the protesters chanted that this demonstration was not amongst them, saying: ‘this protest is legitimate. Not an authorisation to anyone” Subscribe to our channel: Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: Middle East Eye Website: Follow us on TikTok: @middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: