Egyptian Activist Locks Embassy Gates in the Netherlands to Protest Gaza Blockade

Today, in a dramatic act of protest, Anas Habib, an Egyptian activist, livestreamed himself chaining and locking the gates of the Egyptian embassy in The Hague, Netherlands.

The demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to the relentless siege and deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza-specifically targeting Egypt's role in keeping the Rafah border crossing closed.

"I'll stay standing here until the police arrive, because I won't open it until Gaza is opened. Let them break the lock themselves," Habib asserted during the livestream, directly challenging Egyptian and international authorities

The protest has rapidly spread across social media, with video footage and posts circulating on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Threads FacebookInstagramTikTok. The incident remains peaceful, with no injuries reported, but it has drawn sharp criticism and support on social media. Reddit users discussing the event noted:

"Honestly good for him, Egypt has been helping Israel... Wanting to 'normalize' with Israel."

The demonstrator's action highlights mounting global frustration over the Rafah closure. Gaza residents, bracing under siege since October 2023, face catastrophic shortages of food, medicine, and essential aid.

The Rafah crossing-Egypt's only border point with Gaza-has seen its operations severely restricted, leaving desperate civilians stranded FacebookReddit.

Despite rising international outrage, Egypt has maintained tight control over the crossing, citing security concerns. Humanitarian organizations counter that the restrictions are crippling aid efforts and worsening civilian suffering.