Thousands of activists from around the world are expected to descend on Egypt on Thursday for a “Global March to Gaza,” a movement aiming to break the Israeli blockade that has pushed the territory to the brink of famine.

Gaza activists from entering the country and sent them back to Germany, sources at Cairo airport said. The activists are part of a global protest campaign that plans to go to Egypt's Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian enclave.

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.

The U.S. last week vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that also demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" and unhindered aid access in Gaza, arguing it would undermine U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly backed a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with 149 countries including Germany voting in favour.