Egyptian President criticizes Israel’s response to Hamas attack on Gaza

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi has criticized Israel’s response to the recent Hamas attack on Gaza, stating that it amounts to “collective punishment” of the Gaza Strip’s population. Since the surprise attack on October 7, Israel has launched numerous airstrikes on Gaza, raising concerns of a potential Israeli ground offensive.

Speaking during a meeting with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo, President Al-Sissi suggested that Israel’s actions have gone beyond self-defense and are now causing suffering to the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza. Blinken’s visit to Egypt is part of a regional tour aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating into a regional war. His tour has also included visits to Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

President Al-Sissi called for facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza to alleviate the suffering of its people. Israel’s restrictions on the entry of food, fuel, and medicine to Gaza have raised concerns about the conditions faced by the territory’s civilians.

Egypt is actively working to contain the situation and prevent other parties from becoming involved in the conflict. President Al-Sissi chaired a meeting of Egypt’s National Security Council to address the escalating violence in Gaza. Egypt plans to intensify its efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza, particularly amid fears of mass displacement.

The Rafah border crossing, the only passage from Gaza to Egypt, is currently closed due to Israeli bombardments. Egypt has indicated that the passage of foreign nationals from Gaza through the crossing is linked to facilitating aid deliveries to the strip.

Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, is concerned about a potential influx of Gazan refugees into its territory. Egypt has stated its opposition to any displacement policy and any attempts to undermine the Palestinian cause at the expense of neighboring countries. It also plans to host a regional and international conference to discuss the developments and future of the Palestinian cause.

Credit: NAN