Egypt said on Thursday it stopped a delegation of women activists from reaching the Gaza Strip as it feared for their safety while travelling through the restive Sinai Peninsula.

About 100 women from Europe and the United States intended to go to the Palestinian enclave through Egypt's Rafah border crossing to celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday.

An Egyptian court ban on Hamas activities could push the increasingly isolated Palestinian Islamist movement into another battle with Israel, analysts say.

The latest move marked a further deterioration in ties between Egypt and Hamas, which has close links to the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and is now the target of a sweeping crackdown by the military-installed government.

An Egyptian court suspended Thursday the murder trial of Mohammed Morsi after his lawyers requested new judges, sources said, the third such case against the deposed president to be put on hold.

The case is part of a relentless crackdown the government has been waging against Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood movement since the military ousted him on July 3, ending a turbulent year of rule.

Latvia said Wednesday it expected Egypt to immediately release Al-Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste, a dual Australian-Latvian citizen, charged by Cairo with spreading false information and aiding terrorists.

"We expect his immediate release as he has committed no crime," Latvian foreign ministry spokesman Karlis Eihenbaums told Agence France Presse.

Egypt detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire on Wednesday after she tried to enter on her way to neighboring Gaza, she and airport officials said.

Maguire had intended to join a delegation of women activists going to the blockaded Palestinian enclave on Thursday.

The first woman to head an Egyptian political party has expressed concern that a return to military rule could threaten democracy in a country roiled by three years of turbulence.

Hala Shukrallah, a Copt who now leads the liberal Al-Dostour Party, told Agence France Presse the failure of democratic groups to throw up a civilian leadership was benefiting the military, and could also help the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood make a comeback.

The trial of Al-Jazeera journalists for supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood of ousted president Mohamed Morsi resumes Wednesday in a case that has sparked a global outcry over muzzling of the press.

The high-profile trial is seen as a test of to what extent Egypt's military-installed authorities are prepared to allow freedom of the press, with activists expressing concern about a return to autocratic rule in a country roiled by political turmoil.

Egypt on Tuesday deported an American anti-war activist who was trying to travel to the Gaza Strip, airport officials and the activist herself said.

Medea Benjamin, who co-founded the CodePink anti-war group, was detained on arrival in Cairo airport on Monday. She had planned to join a delegation of activists on a visit to the Palestinian coastal enclave this week.

Egypt's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared Tuesday he cannot ignore demands that he run for president, in a looming election his supporters say he is certain to win.

Sisi is seen by his supporters as a strong hand who can stabilize Egypt following three years of unrest ignited by the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt on Tuesday deported an American anti-war activist who was trying to travel to the Gaza Strip, airport officials and the activist herself said.

Medea Benjamin, who co-founded the CodePink anti-war group, was detained on arrival in Cairo airport on Monday. She had planned to join a delegation of activists on a visit to the Palestinian coastal enclave this week.