Pro-Palestinian activists seeking to march to Gaza with the stated aim of breaking Israel’s blockade on the territory have been stopped in both Libya and Egypt, organisers said, AFP reports.

“Forty participants of the Global March to Gaza have had their passports taken at a checkpoint on the way out of Cairo,” the organisers of the Global March to Gaza said in a statement.

“They are being held in the heat and not allowed to move,” they continued, adding that another “15 are being held at hotels”.

The activists were from France, Spain, Canada, Turkey and the United Kingdom, it said, adding: “We are a peaceful movement and we are complying with Egyptian law.” The group urged embassies to help secure their release so they could complete their voyage.