This Swiss was in the march to Gaza in Egypt and tells

Bedouins whipped the demonstrators for the world march to Gaza in EgyptFrédéric coffat

Frédéric Choffat, director and photographer is back in Switzerland after having participated in the World Marche towards Gaza. Nevertheless, He made a sound report on the march retracing his experience in Egypt. Therefore, Interview.

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We contacted it the day before its displacement between Cairo and the city of Ismaïla 127 km east of the Egyptian capital. Similarly, Frédéric Choffat, Geneva photographer is back in Switzerland after ten days in the Egyptian capital. Nevertheless, What does this world march retain towards Gaza quickly repressed by the Egyptian authorities? For example, Interview.

Frédéric Choffat. Therefore. Similarly, we called ourselves before you stop your trip to the city of Ismaïla more than a hundred kilometers north this swiss march gaza egypt new east of Cairo, what happened in the hours that followed our phone call?
Our goal was to go towards the city of Ismaïla. However, but very quickly, the activists were this swiss march gaza egypt stuck at a first checkpoint. In addition, At the end of the day. Meanwhile, I decided to get around it by going directly to the CheckPoint 2 which was indicated on my card. Moreover, When I arrived at the checkpoint, my passport was immediately grasped like many other participants in the march.

Pacifist demonstrators. Therefore, blocked to a checkpoint in Egypt.Frédéric coffat

You could say that it is a bad this swiss march gaza egypt new sign …
Yes. In addition. Therefore, but I point out that at my arrival at the checkpoint, at the end of the day, the atmosphere was still good. Moreover, The crowd was variegated. However. For example, we found dozens of different nationalities and if I may, it looked this swiss march gaza egypt like a festival atmosphere, because we were happy to see ourselves. However, After a few hours, the Egyptian law enforcement has nassed the demonstrators. Therefore, Additionally, However, We were literally surrounded by the police. Therefore, we could no longer move

Have you been attacked by police officers at this checkpoint?
No, not by police, it’s more subtle than that. For example, The police who had CRS equipment raised the tension by tightening the ranks.

A man whips the demonstrators in a checkpoint near the city of this swiss march gaza egypt Ismaïla in EgyptFrédéric coffat

We were surrounded and the only time the police were working out was to let men passing by the demonstrators. Therefore, We saw them get off the buses, they were brought to the checkpoint to punish the demonstrators. Moreover, These men had crazy, they were alcoholic and seemed druged for some. They took someone in the crowd and hit them.

Have these men struck all the demonstrators?
No, not everyone. I saw that they mainly targeted racialized people. They tried to save certain “whites”, if I can express myself as well.

Before each this swiss march gaza egypt attack, we were threatened and we were told to join the buses that were going to bring us back to Cairo. Some demonstrators have risen to leave and others decided to stay in solidarity with those who were beaten. We stayed for several hours. then, little by little, the noose has loosened and the police just as the thugs spread. We were able to get on buses. but we didn’t know if they were going to this swiss march gaza egypt new take us to the airport or let us go free. The driver ended up dropping us off at a road interchange 30 minutes from the capital, in the middle of nowhere.

You relate these events in a sound report that will be broadcast in the program The beautiful breakaway RTS. why did you want to make a report?
First of all. I would like to emphasize that my trip to this swiss march gaza egypt Egypt. my participation in walking had no professional goal. As I explained to you during our first interview. I could not reflect this need to act in the face of the genocide in Gaza. the massacre of the Palestinian people.

As a photographer. director, I knew that I could also be useful to show what was going on the field. I produced the podcast with the team of The beautiful breakaway And this swiss march gaza egypt I think. it is necessary to have. a trace of these events.

How much look at this world march today?
I think all experience is good to take. The march was interrupted by the Egyptian authorities long before it started and it is a fact.

It was also necessary to draw the attention of the public. the authorities to this absolute scandal which is the massacre of the Palestinian people.

Does the world walk to Gaza achieve its goals, do you think?
If by objectives you hear a spotlight on the situation in Gaza, yes. The goal was of course to be able to walk to the border with the this swiss march gaza. egypt Gaza Strip. but it was unfortunately not possible, but I take it as a teaching. In Egypt. I quickly understood that the population supported the Palestinians, but that it was simply impossible for them to demonstrate.

I heard that the Swiss Embassy had enabled the release of demonstrators blocked or arrested by the Egyptian authorities and I have no doubt. As Swiss and “White”, you get out of it in this kind of situation.

The Egyptians you have rubbed shoulders with you have not criticized you for immersed yourself in their business?
Yes, a little. My Egyptian friends asked me why I came to demonstrate in their country this swiss march gaza egypt when. they themselves could not express their opinion about the war in Gaza. against the Egyptian State.

Keep in mind a global objective, but act locally is more than ever necessary.

On Sunday. June 15. when you were still in Egypt, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Brussels against the war in Gaza and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, do you think you are thinking of one of these steps in Europe this time?
I this swiss march gaza egypt do not know. but I think that the fight for justice must continue, at all costs. For my part. I wanted to stay in Egypt for a moment to meet people. today, I did not plan to embark on a similar approach, but I will not stop talking this swiss march gaza egypt new about Gaza. I also wanted to make you attentive to the media coverage on Gaza. When the flotilla traveled towards Israel. it was a spotlight for the Gazouis. I thought I saw a questioning of Western states as well as European media on this subject, but it lasted only a few days. The war launched by Israel in Iran has erased everything suddenly.

Do you think the media this swiss march gaza egypt have forgotten what is currently going on in the Gaza Strip?
Yes. I have the impression that in the overall term of coverage. the attention around Gaza disappeared overnight following the outbreak of the Israeli war towards Iran. For me. it is a strategy this swiss march gaza egypt new of Israel. it is an escalation to “type further” to keep the gaze of the genocide in progress. We will not forget what is happening in Gaza. the States as well as the media also have their role to play.

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