A group of French citizens who travelled from Rennes to Egypt hoping to join a global march to break the siege on Gaza have returned home, frustrated but undeterred. The planned 48km march from El Arish to Rafah, through the Sinai desert, was meant to symbolise international solidarity with Palestinians trapped under blockade and bombardment.

Despite months of preparation, Egyptian authorities blocked the peaceful initiative from taking place. Activists described intimidation, surveillance, and a clear message: international support for Gaza would not be tolerated on Egyptian soil.

From a Palestinian perspective, the failed march is yet another example of how regional complicity helps sustain the siege. But the voices of those who tried to marchة and those still planning new mobilisations in Rennes and Brusselsة are a reminder that Gaza is not alone, and that solidarity can cross borders even when people cannot.