Beyond the Public Sphere? Egyptian Revolutionary Socialist Interventions in the Palestine Solidarity Movement

As the horrors of the ongoing genocide in Gaza have almost reached 12 months, globally a new generation of activists has simultaneously been politicised on the over 76-year history of settler colonialism and ethnic cleansing in Palestine. Specifically in Germany, which is the second largest weapons supplier to Israel, those who are part of the pro-Palestine movement are threatened with losing their job, police violence and house raids. For those who are migrants, the revoking of residency statuses and deportations are also a looming threat. Even within the broader German Left, solidarity with Palestine is a contested issue. Yet despite criminalisation and repressions, activists in the pro-Palestine movement continue to organise. Within this framework, exiled members of the organisation of Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists have made modest attempts to intervene in the discourse on Palestine.

The Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists (al-ištirākiyyūn aṯ-ṯawriyyūn) grew in popularity during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and have been forced into the political underground and exile since 2013. Through field research with Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists in Germany, I analyse how members of the organisation in exile intervene in the discourse on Palestine, questioning both the hegemonic state narrative as well as that of the broader German “Left”.

Through this case study, I showcase how through events, talks and demonstrations, Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists intervene in the debate on Palestine in Germany regarding questions of solidarity with national liberation movements, united fronts with Islamists, transnational internationalism and peoples’ power from below. As these points have been subject to much contention, I delve into how oppressive mechanisms try to quench dissent and stifle public debate, from the state level to inner-Leftist circles. Expanding on work on travelling theory, I highlight how Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists navigate the restrictions on solidarity with Palestine in Germany to manifest their Palestine solidarity from below.