At least 100 people were arrested in Egypt after taking part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations late last week, though some have subsequently been released, lawyers working on the cases have said.

State-approved protests against Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip were held at several locations in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt last week.

However, some protesters in Cairo walked to Tahrir Square — the centre of Egypt’s 2011 uprising — which was not among the sites approved for the pro-Palestinian demonstration. The protesters were quickly dispersed by security personnel.

“Around 40 of the arrests were in Cairo, 65 in Alexandria, and a few from other provinces. Fourteen of the detainees from Cairo were summoned to the public prosecutor’s office,” human rights lawyer Nabeh Elganadi told Reuters.

At least 18 detainees from Cairo were released “and that number is likely to rise”, he added.