The arrests in Egypt follow Israel's interception of a boat carrying activists on their way to Gaza, including environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg. Egypt has cracked down on pro-Palestinian activists even as it publicly condemns Israeli aid restrictions and has called for an end to the war.

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza and aid access, after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week.