People before Profit TD Paul Murphy has called on Tánaiste Simon Harris to put pressure on the Egyptian government to allow the 'Global March to Gaza' to reach Gaza.
Mr Murphy was among a number of Irish people who were detained by Egyptian authorities while travelling through the country to reach Rafah on the peace march.
The group has since been released.
He asked Mr Harris to "put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to let the marchers reach Rafah".
"The people of Gaza are suffering horrendous conditions and starvation imposed by Israel," Mr Murphy added.
"We need to get humanitarian aid to them as quickly as possible."
The TD said that the group has been taken back to Cairo "against our will".
"Force and considerable violence was used to force people onto buses and back to Cairo.
"We have been released from detention and have regrouped today in Cairo to consider what to do next to try and get to Rafah to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
"This is the sole reason we are in Egypt".
In a post on X, Mr Murphy said that his phone had been returned to him.
I finally have a phone. Thanks everybody for the support.
— Paul Murphy 🇵🇸 (@paulmurphy_TD) June 14, 2025
We are making plans about the next step of the #GreatMarchToGaza. The forced starvation of Gaza must be ended.
Western support for the terrorist genocidal state of Israel must stop. pic.twitter.com/1FKDJd21Y8
Hundreds of people came to Egypt this week for the Global March to Gaza, an international initiative intended to exert pressure for an end to an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis there.
Organisers said activists were stopped in both Libya and Egypt.
They said that people from 80 countries were set to begin the march to Egypt's Rafah Crossing with Gaza, and confirmed some had been deported or were detained at the airport.
Mr Murphy said he was among a group of 65 people, including Irish, British and French citizens among others, who were detained yesterday by Egyptian authorities.
Speaking on Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, he said thousands of people from 57 countries were participating in the Global March to Gaza.
"I was in one particular group," he said, adding "we all went by different routes to try to head in the direction of Rafah".
Mr Murphy said the public support shown is "really appreciated", adding that he also appreciated the Tánaiste "reaching out".
The People Before Profit TD said those involved have since regrouped to discuss how they "can get back to our core focus, which is about what is happening in Gaza".
"We're going to meet shortly and discuss what options are available to us," he added.
He added that "it's clear" Egypt had taken a decision to stop the march, adding "we need to see if the attitude of the Egyptian state will change under pressure today or tomorrow".
In a statement, the Tánaiste said he had spoken to Mr Murphy this morning and said he had had his passport returned to him following his release.
Mr Harris said he spoke directly to Mr Murphy "to confirm he and other Irish people have been released from detention, had their passports returned and were receiving consular assistance."
He said he was aware that some of the Irish group have not had their phones returned and said he has asked Irish embassy staff to pursue this.
Read more: Dublin rally urges Govt to protect Ireland's neutrality
