30 jan 2014
The Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip demanded a statement of rectification and apology from the editor-in-chief of the Egyptian daily “Al-Akhbar” for the publication of false accusations against the assassinated leader Ahmed al-Ja’abri of messing up Egyptian internal security. The media advisor of the Palestinian Prime Minister Taher al-Nono said in a statement posted on his facebook page ”a well-known paper such as “Al-Akhbar” should not slip up to this level.”
The Egyptian paper published, on Tuesday on its main page , a news accusing Ahmed al-Ja’abri, who was assassinated by Israeli occupation in 2012, of leading a group of terrorists to mess up Egyptian internal security.
Hamas has been targeted by a continuous defamation campaign by the Egyptian media and juridical system, most recently, the accusations made by the Egyptian public Prosecutor said that almost 70 of the defendants belonged to Hamas or Hezbollah were also accused of murdering police officers and helping thousands to escape during the jailbreak.
The Egyptian paper published, on Tuesday on its main page , a news accusing Ahmed al-Ja’abri, who was assassinated by Israeli occupation in 2012, of leading a group of terrorists to mess up Egyptian internal security.
Hamas has been targeted by a continuous defamation campaign by the Egyptian media and juridical system, most recently, the accusations made by the Egyptian public Prosecutor said that almost 70 of the defendants belonged to Hamas or Hezbollah were also accused of murdering police officers and helping thousands to escape during the jailbreak.
The Hamas Movement called on the Arab League and the organization of Islamic cooperation (OIC) to form a neutral fact-finding committee to investigate all the accusations and claims made by Egypt against it, stressing that it has nothing to hide or be afraid of. In a press release on Wednesday, Hamas expressed its strong dismay and shock at the recent false accusations made by the Egyptian judiciary against some of its national figures, affirming that those accusations are unfounded lies.
Hamas emphasized that all recent and previous accusation made by Egyptian officials and figures directly target a Palestinian resistance Movement that defends the honor of the Arab Nation and fights a brutal enemy prowling around the interests of the Arab and Muslim nations.
The Movement said that the timing of the new fabrications by the Egyptian judiciary raises suspicions about its intents, especially since they have coincided with the US peace plan that targets the Palestinian rights and Israel's growing threats to wage a war on Gaza.
The Movement added that all the previous accusations against it that had been made by Egyptian officials and media figures were refuted and proven with conclusive facts that they were fabricated and aimed at smearing Hamas and exporting Egypt's internal crisis to Gaza.
"It has never been proven since the emergence of the Hamas Movement that it has interfered in any internal Arab or Islamic affairs, this is a principle which it does not deviate from because it considers the national security of any Arab and Islamic country a red line, and the compass and efforts of the resistance will always be directed against the Zionist occupation," Hamas underlined.
"Despite our sense of deep injustice inflicted on us by some of our Egyptian brothers, Egypt to us will always remain that great country which we are keen on maintaining its security, stability and prosperity and never interfering in its internal affairs, regardless of the nature of its governance and system," Hamas stated.
Hamas emphasized that all recent and previous accusation made by Egyptian officials and figures directly target a Palestinian resistance Movement that defends the honor of the Arab Nation and fights a brutal enemy prowling around the interests of the Arab and Muslim nations.
The Movement said that the timing of the new fabrications by the Egyptian judiciary raises suspicions about its intents, especially since they have coincided with the US peace plan that targets the Palestinian rights and Israel's growing threats to wage a war on Gaza.
The Movement added that all the previous accusations against it that had been made by Egyptian officials and media figures were refuted and proven with conclusive facts that they were fabricated and aimed at smearing Hamas and exporting Egypt's internal crisis to Gaza.
"It has never been proven since the emergence of the Hamas Movement that it has interfered in any internal Arab or Islamic affairs, this is a principle which it does not deviate from because it considers the national security of any Arab and Islamic country a red line, and the compass and efforts of the resistance will always be directed against the Zionist occupation," Hamas underlined.
"Despite our sense of deep injustice inflicted on us by some of our Egyptian brothers, Egypt to us will always remain that great country which we are keen on maintaining its security, stability and prosperity and never interfering in its internal affairs, regardless of the nature of its governance and system," Hamas stated.
Hamas “Islamic Resistance Movement” called on Arab countries to form a neutral fact-finding mission, under the auspices of the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, on the Egyptian allegations against it,. The movement said in a statement published Wednesday on the facebook page of Ezzat al-Reshq, a member of Hamas politburo, “Hamas stressed repeatedly that it never ever interferes in the Egyptian affairs before or after the uprising, adding that the stability in Egypt is its concern.”
“ The besieged Gaza would not destabilize the constancy of a country that is considered its strategic depth and the sole crossing for it to the world” Reshq pointed out.
He added, “ fabricating crises through indictment and incitements deepens the suffering and pain of people trapped for more than eight years.”
“ Although our sense of deep injustice at being victimized by some of our brothers in Egypt, Egypt, which we care about its security and prosperity, will remain a great country in our opinion and we do not interfere in its interior affairs, regardless of its rulers.”
“ The besieged Gaza would not destabilize the constancy of a country that is considered its strategic depth and the sole crossing for it to the world” Reshq pointed out.
He added, “ fabricating crises through indictment and incitements deepens the suffering and pain of people trapped for more than eight years.”
“ Although our sense of deep injustice at being victimized by some of our brothers in Egypt, Egypt, which we care about its security and prosperity, will remain a great country in our opinion and we do not interfere in its interior affairs, regardless of its rulers.”
29 jan 2014
During the trial of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi
Hamas Tuesday considered Egyptian public prosecutors’ claims against members of the movement ‘a well silly farce loaded with politicized accusations’. The Islamic Resistance Movement said a press statement that “the allegations are unfounded, but sheer lies and fabrications," adding that "they are aimed at Hamas’s history and supporters,”
The claims came during the trial of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Tuesday on charges of breaking out of prison during the 2011 uprising against veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.
Morsi was tried along with 130 others, including members of his banned Muslim Brotherhood, the Hamas movement and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
Prosecutors said “almost 70 of the defendants belonged to Hamas or Hezbollah and that some of them were also accused of murdering police officers and helping thousands to escape during the jailbreak,” according to AFP report.
The statement demanded to stop incitement against Hamas, the Palestinian people and resistance, and that Egypt let go of exporting its internal problems to Gaza and Palestinians.
“The accusations do serve only the interests of the Israeli occupytion, the genuine enemy to Egypt and Palestine." the movement stressed.
Hamas Tuesday considered Egyptian public prosecutors’ claims against members of the movement ‘a well silly farce loaded with politicized accusations’. The Islamic Resistance Movement said a press statement that “the allegations are unfounded, but sheer lies and fabrications," adding that "they are aimed at Hamas’s history and supporters,”
The claims came during the trial of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Tuesday on charges of breaking out of prison during the 2011 uprising against veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.
Morsi was tried along with 130 others, including members of his banned Muslim Brotherhood, the Hamas movement and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
Prosecutors said “almost 70 of the defendants belonged to Hamas or Hezbollah and that some of them were also accused of murdering police officers and helping thousands to escape during the jailbreak,” according to AFP report.
The statement demanded to stop incitement against Hamas, the Palestinian people and resistance, and that Egypt let go of exporting its internal problems to Gaza and Palestinians.
“The accusations do serve only the interests of the Israeli occupytion, the genuine enemy to Egypt and Palestine." the movement stressed.
27 jan 2014
The logo of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis
Hamas on Monday condemned Egyptian statements linking the Palestinian group to the ongoing crisis in Egypt, denying any connection to a Sinai-based militant group and calling upon authorities to stop the "lies."
Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said in a statement that Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has no connections to Gaza nor to Palestine, referring to a Sinai-based Wahhabi militant group that has been behind a string of bombings targeting Egyptian state institutions in recent months.
Abu Zuhri added that alleging that the movement is from Gaza is an attempt by authorities to export the Egyptian crisis to Gaza, and called for a end to all the "lies, which only serve the Israeli occupation."
Since a July coup that ousted president Morsi, Egyptian military authorities have accused Hamas of being connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and militant groups that have waged a campaign against the government.
Abu Zuhri also denied claims made by former Egyptian general Sameh Seif el-Yazal that Sam-7 rockets are being smuggled from Gaza to Sinai. Abu Zuhri highlighted that the weapon is not made in Gaza but in Russia, and is readily available on the black market.
Egyptian armed forces launched large scale military action against militants in the Sinai Peninsula earlier in September, in what officials described as the largest mobilization of force in the area since the 1973 war with Israel.
The action comes in the wake of rising instability and almost daily attacks in the region since the coup, as groups conduct a campaign against state institutions and the military. The Muslim Brotherhood has condemned the violent attacks and denied any link.
Muslim Brotherhood activists, meanwhile, have held weekly demonstrations in protest across Egypt, which the army has violently repressed.
Hamas on Monday condemned Egyptian statements linking the Palestinian group to the ongoing crisis in Egypt, denying any connection to a Sinai-based militant group and calling upon authorities to stop the "lies."
Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said in a statement that Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has no connections to Gaza nor to Palestine, referring to a Sinai-based Wahhabi militant group that has been behind a string of bombings targeting Egyptian state institutions in recent months.
Abu Zuhri added that alleging that the movement is from Gaza is an attempt by authorities to export the Egyptian crisis to Gaza, and called for a end to all the "lies, which only serve the Israeli occupation."
Since a July coup that ousted president Morsi, Egyptian military authorities have accused Hamas of being connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and militant groups that have waged a campaign against the government.
Abu Zuhri also denied claims made by former Egyptian general Sameh Seif el-Yazal that Sam-7 rockets are being smuggled from Gaza to Sinai. Abu Zuhri highlighted that the weapon is not made in Gaza but in Russia, and is readily available on the black market.
Egyptian armed forces launched large scale military action against militants in the Sinai Peninsula earlier in September, in what officials described as the largest mobilization of force in the area since the 1973 war with Israel.
The action comes in the wake of rising instability and almost daily attacks in the region since the coup, as groups conduct a campaign against state institutions and the military. The Muslim Brotherhood has condemned the violent attacks and denied any link.
Muslim Brotherhood activists, meanwhile, have held weekly demonstrations in protest across Egypt, which the army has violently repressed.
26 jan 2014
Hamas movement expressed absolute dismay at the Egyptian ferocious media campaign calling for launching air strikes on Gaza Strip. Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said in a statement on Saturday that his movement was shocked at the campaign of incitement against Gaza launched by Egyptian media and some figures.
He regretted that such campaigns had lowered to that degree of hatred and calls for murder. He said that whatever is being published by the Egyptian media were mere fabrications and lies and an attempt to export their country’s crises, calling for an end to such lies.
He regretted that such campaigns had lowered to that degree of hatred and calls for murder. He said that whatever is being published by the Egyptian media were mere fabrications and lies and an attempt to export their country’s crises, calling for an end to such lies.
23 jan 2014
Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, has denied press allegations reported by Al-Watan Egyptian newspaper about Iranian experts' arrival to Gaza for the production of explosive devices then transporting them to Sinai. “We totally deny Iranian experts' presence in Gaza”, he said, adding that such allegations harm the reputation of Egyptian army and security services because they mean that they have failed to carry out their responsibilities.
Abu Zuhri denied claims reporting the Egyptian arrest of persons while trying to transport explosives to Sinai.
He warned that his movement might be forced to publish documents that expose the ongoing fabrications and allegations targeting Palestinian people and resistance in case the incitement continued.
Abu Zuhri denied claims reporting the Egyptian arrest of persons while trying to transport explosives to Sinai.
He warned that his movement might be forced to publish documents that expose the ongoing fabrications and allegations targeting Palestinian people and resistance in case the incitement continued.
19 jan 2014
Egyptian security forces responsible with monitoring the border with Israel on Sunday detained 11 African migrants trying to enter Israel without documents through its border with the Sinai Peninsula.
An Egyptian security source told a Ma'an reporter in El-Arish that six young men and women from Eritrea and five from Ethiopia were detained near the Israeli border fence.
The migrants admitted during interrogation that they were planning to cross into Israel in order to look for work, and that they had paid human traffickers 2000 dollars to help them cross into Israel.
An Egyptian security source told a Ma'an reporter in El-Arish that six young men and women from Eritrea and five from Ethiopia were detained near the Israeli border fence.
The migrants admitted during interrogation that they were planning to cross into Israel in order to look for work, and that they had paid human traffickers 2000 dollars to help them cross into Israel.
18 jan 2014
Egyptian border guards demolished eight smuggling tunnels underneath the Egypt-Gaza border in Rafah, Egyptian army sources told Ma'an.
A military source said Egyptian border guards "continued with its role to protect the country's borders in all strategic directions, demolishing eight smuggling tunnels under the borders in Rafah."
A military source said Egyptian border guards "continued with its role to protect the country's borders in all strategic directions, demolishing eight smuggling tunnels under the borders in Rafah."
At least 1,113 smuggling tunnels have been demolished since January 2013, the army source said.
An official told Ma'an in September that over 90 percent of the Egypt-Gaza smuggling tunnels had been destroyed by Egyptian forces.
The tunnels had been a lifeline for the flow of food, clothing, building materials, and fuel into Gaza, which Israel has blockaded since 2006.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
An official told Ma'an in September that over 90 percent of the Egypt-Gaza smuggling tunnels had been destroyed by Egyptian forces.
The tunnels had been a lifeline for the flow of food, clothing, building materials, and fuel into Gaza, which Israel has blockaded since 2006.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
16 jan 2014
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Palestine
Senior Egyptian military officials reportedly told a western news agency this week that the Egyptian armed forces would try to destroy Hamas, the Islamic Palestinian movement which is also viewed as Israel's number-one enemy.
The unnamed officials said the idea includes working with Hamas's political rival Fatah and supporting popular anti-Hamas activities in the Gaza Strip. The officials who spoke to Reuters didn’t say if the plan would be carried out in cooperation and coordination with Israel.
Last month, the Egyptian army claimed that it had apprehended a Hamas's fighter in the northern Sinai Desert and that he admitted that he was intending to blow up a Mercedes parked near a crucial security target.
However, it is widely believed that the report was concocted by the Egyptian army, which is notorious for fabricating incidents and then blaming them on political opponents, especially the Muslim Brotherhood.
Reuters quoted the unnamed officials as saying that Hamas will face growing resistance by activists who will launch protests similar to those in Egypt that have led to the downfall of two presidents since the Arab Spring in 2011.
Cairo plans to support such protests in an effort to cripple Hamas, the officials told the news agency.
"Gaza is next," said one senior security official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "We cannot get liberated from the terrorism of the Brotherhood in Egypt without ending it in Gaza, which lies on our borders."
Asked why Egyptian intelligence is not going after Hamas now, another senior security official said, "Their day will come."
De facto Mossad agents
There is no doubt in my mind that these Egyptian officials represent the "Mossad lobby" within the Egyptian army. They are the Sisi men, par excellence, who are trying to invent "red herrings" and imaginary enemies abroad to justify- and divert attention from- their tyranny and terror at home and impotence vis-à-vis real foes such as Ethiopia which is cutting off Egypt's lifeline, the waters of the Nile to Egypt.
So instead of putting up an appropriate stand to deter Ethiopia's mortal danger, the leadership of the Egyptian army is trying to compensate for its pathetic impotence by bullying the helpless Palestinians on Israel's behalf.
According to some reports from Washington, the Sisi junta has been in contact with the Jewish lobby in the US Congress in an effort to urge the Obama administration to pressure the Ethiopian government to observe Egyptian grievances pertaining to the Renaissance Dam Addis Ababa is building over the Nile.
In return, the Egyptian army would invade Gaza and end Hamas's rule there.
I do believe that the treacherous Egyptian army leadership is capable of carrying out even the most virulent act of treason against Egypt and the Arab world.
Well, those who have murdered innocent Egyptians by the thousands at Rabaa and elsewhere and overthrown the only democratically-elected president in Egypt's entire history- mainly for Israel's sake- wouldn't hesitate to try to seek and “win" little battles here and there to justify their treason.
In the final analysis, we are talking about the disciples of Abdul Hakim Amer, the infamous Mossad agent and Gamal Abdul Nasser's top military general who made sure that all Egyptian warplanes remained grounded in their bases on 5 June 1967, only to become sitting ducks for the Israeli air-force.
We know the rest of the story.
We, Palestinians, will never forget the Egyptian regime's connivance with Israel during the 2008-9 genocidal aggression in Gaza. Now, the Sisi gang is trying to do the same thing once again. They are doing it even more brashly and more brazenly than did the Mubarak regime.
The Canard of Hamas ' interference in Egyptian affairs
Hamas has said repeatedly its enemy is Israel, the occupier of our ancestral homeland and tormentor of our people. Hamas has no interest whatsoever in interfering in the internal affairs of Egypt or any other country.
True, Hamas's and many other Palestinians' hearts may be on the side of the Islamists of Egypt who won elections there three times while the Sisi gang and its supporters lost three times.
Hamas, like all Muslims should, back the choice of the people of Egypt, not the choice of Israel and the American Jewish lobby.
However, this doesn't mean that Hamas is intervening or interfering in Egypt on the side of the Islamists. Hamas is too weak and too preoccupied with its own problems and the problems facing the Palestinian people and their enduring just cause to have the time or the energy to interfere in other countries' affairs.
Besides, the fact that the Rafah border crossing, which is controlled by Egypt, is the Gaza Strip's only "lung" to the outside world, would make any undue interference by Hamas in internal Egyptian affairs an act of political suicide for the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The truth of the matter is that Egypt is facing home-grown problems stemming from the bloody coup by Sisi and fellow murderers against the legitimate democratic government. To be sure, Hamas never told the Egyptian armed forces to slaughter their own people en mass at Rabaa or rape women at Tahrir square or collaborate with the treacherous Coptic Church which would like to alter Egypt's Islamic face.
A final word of advice to Hamas: These Egyptian threats must be taken seriously. Israel will never forgive Hamas or any other Palestinian group for their steadfastness, resilience and resistance. Israel wants Hamas to abandon its constants, including non-recognition of Israel, insistence on the repatriation of the refugees and total liberation of Jerusalem. Israel and the US, Israel's guardian ally, love the PLO leadership in Ramallah precisely because it is willing to compromise on these constants.
Hence, any movement by the fifth columnists in Gaza must be crushed mercilessly.
These are Israel's vicarious soldiers. Albeit wearing Egyptian uniforms, really or metaphorically.
Senior Egyptian military officials reportedly told a western news agency this week that the Egyptian armed forces would try to destroy Hamas, the Islamic Palestinian movement which is also viewed as Israel's number-one enemy.
The unnamed officials said the idea includes working with Hamas's political rival Fatah and supporting popular anti-Hamas activities in the Gaza Strip. The officials who spoke to Reuters didn’t say if the plan would be carried out in cooperation and coordination with Israel.
Last month, the Egyptian army claimed that it had apprehended a Hamas's fighter in the northern Sinai Desert and that he admitted that he was intending to blow up a Mercedes parked near a crucial security target.
However, it is widely believed that the report was concocted by the Egyptian army, which is notorious for fabricating incidents and then blaming them on political opponents, especially the Muslim Brotherhood.
Reuters quoted the unnamed officials as saying that Hamas will face growing resistance by activists who will launch protests similar to those in Egypt that have led to the downfall of two presidents since the Arab Spring in 2011.
Cairo plans to support such protests in an effort to cripple Hamas, the officials told the news agency.
"Gaza is next," said one senior security official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "We cannot get liberated from the terrorism of the Brotherhood in Egypt without ending it in Gaza, which lies on our borders."
Asked why Egyptian intelligence is not going after Hamas now, another senior security official said, "Their day will come."
De facto Mossad agents
There is no doubt in my mind that these Egyptian officials represent the "Mossad lobby" within the Egyptian army. They are the Sisi men, par excellence, who are trying to invent "red herrings" and imaginary enemies abroad to justify- and divert attention from- their tyranny and terror at home and impotence vis-à-vis real foes such as Ethiopia which is cutting off Egypt's lifeline, the waters of the Nile to Egypt.
So instead of putting up an appropriate stand to deter Ethiopia's mortal danger, the leadership of the Egyptian army is trying to compensate for its pathetic impotence by bullying the helpless Palestinians on Israel's behalf.
According to some reports from Washington, the Sisi junta has been in contact with the Jewish lobby in the US Congress in an effort to urge the Obama administration to pressure the Ethiopian government to observe Egyptian grievances pertaining to the Renaissance Dam Addis Ababa is building over the Nile.
In return, the Egyptian army would invade Gaza and end Hamas's rule there.
I do believe that the treacherous Egyptian army leadership is capable of carrying out even the most virulent act of treason against Egypt and the Arab world.
Well, those who have murdered innocent Egyptians by the thousands at Rabaa and elsewhere and overthrown the only democratically-elected president in Egypt's entire history- mainly for Israel's sake- wouldn't hesitate to try to seek and “win" little battles here and there to justify their treason.
In the final analysis, we are talking about the disciples of Abdul Hakim Amer, the infamous Mossad agent and Gamal Abdul Nasser's top military general who made sure that all Egyptian warplanes remained grounded in their bases on 5 June 1967, only to become sitting ducks for the Israeli air-force.
We know the rest of the story.
We, Palestinians, will never forget the Egyptian regime's connivance with Israel during the 2008-9 genocidal aggression in Gaza. Now, the Sisi gang is trying to do the same thing once again. They are doing it even more brashly and more brazenly than did the Mubarak regime.
The Canard of Hamas ' interference in Egyptian affairs
Hamas has said repeatedly its enemy is Israel, the occupier of our ancestral homeland and tormentor of our people. Hamas has no interest whatsoever in interfering in the internal affairs of Egypt or any other country.
True, Hamas's and many other Palestinians' hearts may be on the side of the Islamists of Egypt who won elections there three times while the Sisi gang and its supporters lost three times.
Hamas, like all Muslims should, back the choice of the people of Egypt, not the choice of Israel and the American Jewish lobby.
However, this doesn't mean that Hamas is intervening or interfering in Egypt on the side of the Islamists. Hamas is too weak and too preoccupied with its own problems and the problems facing the Palestinian people and their enduring just cause to have the time or the energy to interfere in other countries' affairs.
Besides, the fact that the Rafah border crossing, which is controlled by Egypt, is the Gaza Strip's only "lung" to the outside world, would make any undue interference by Hamas in internal Egyptian affairs an act of political suicide for the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The truth of the matter is that Egypt is facing home-grown problems stemming from the bloody coup by Sisi and fellow murderers against the legitimate democratic government. To be sure, Hamas never told the Egyptian armed forces to slaughter their own people en mass at Rabaa or rape women at Tahrir square or collaborate with the treacherous Coptic Church which would like to alter Egypt's Islamic face.
A final word of advice to Hamas: These Egyptian threats must be taken seriously. Israel will never forgive Hamas or any other Palestinian group for their steadfastness, resilience and resistance. Israel wants Hamas to abandon its constants, including non-recognition of Israel, insistence on the repatriation of the refugees and total liberation of Jerusalem. Israel and the US, Israel's guardian ally, love the PLO leadership in Ramallah precisely because it is willing to compromise on these constants.
Hence, any movement by the fifth columnists in Gaza must be crushed mercilessly.
These are Israel's vicarious soldiers. Albeit wearing Egyptian uniforms, really or metaphorically.
15 jan 2014
Hamas movement expressed absolute dismay at the statements attributed to Egyptian security and diplomatic figures that Cairo would work on liquidating Hamas movement. Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, described in a press release on Wednesday such statements as “very serious”.
He added that the statements represented the first official Egyptian admission of involvement in the Palestinian internal affairs and in destroying resistance forces in Gaza.
Abu Zuhri said that destroying resistance was a mere “illusion” and the Arab parties involved in such a scheme should rather mobilize their potentials against the Israeli occupation.
Four Egyptian security officials and two prominent diplomats said that Cairo would cooperate with Fatah faction to destroy Hamas movement in Gaza Strip and would back any chaos in the Gaza Strip.
He added that the statements represented the first official Egyptian admission of involvement in the Palestinian internal affairs and in destroying resistance forces in Gaza.
Abu Zuhri said that destroying resistance was a mere “illusion” and the Arab parties involved in such a scheme should rather mobilize their potentials against the Israeli occupation.
Four Egyptian security officials and two prominent diplomats said that Cairo would cooperate with Fatah faction to destroy Hamas movement in Gaza Strip and would back any chaos in the Gaza Strip.
14 jan 2014
Egyptian security forces detained five young Sudanese men and a woman who were attempting to cross into Israel through the Egyptian border on Monday.
Egyptian security sources said the detainees admitted during interrogation that they planned to cross borders into Israel to look for work.
They also said that each of them paid 2000 dollars to human traffickers in the Sinai Peninsula to help them cross the borders.
Egyptian security sources said the detainees admitted during interrogation that they planned to cross borders into Israel to look for work.
They also said that each of them paid 2000 dollars to human traffickers in the Sinai Peninsula to help them cross the borders.
13 jan 2014
Egyptian security forces demolished 10 smuggling tunnels under the shared border with Gaza on Sunday, Egyptian security officials said.
The tunnels were located in the city of Rafah.
Egypt's army, which ousted the Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi in a July coup, has destroyed dozens of tunnels used by Hamas to bring crucial supplies into the blockaded Strip.
The tunnels have been a lifeline for the flow of food, clothing, building materials and fuel into the impoverished territory, which Israel has blockaded since 2006.
Egyptian officials said last September that more than 90 percent of the smuggling tunnels with Gaza have been destroyed.
The tunnels were located in the city of Rafah.
Egypt's army, which ousted the Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi in a July coup, has destroyed dozens of tunnels used by Hamas to bring crucial supplies into the blockaded Strip.
The tunnels have been a lifeline for the flow of food, clothing, building materials and fuel into the impoverished territory, which Israel has blockaded since 2006.
Egyptian officials said last September that more than 90 percent of the smuggling tunnels with Gaza have been destroyed.
12 jan 2014
The Egyptian authorities banned the entry of a Jordanian delegation into the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing after more than ten days of waiting at El-Arish city. The government committee against the siege in Gaza said in a statement on Sunday that the five-member Jordanian delegation led by Sheikh Hazem Abu Ghazala had arrived in El-Arish city on 30th December and stayed there waiting for allowing them access but to no avail.
The committee denounced the Egyptian ban on entry of the delegation, demanding a full opening of the Rafah terminal and allowing all delegations free entry into the besieged enclave to extend badly needed medical and humanitarian aid especially after the severe losses suffered during the recent cold spell that hit the Strip.
The committee asked all free people of the world and heads of previous aid convoys to Gaza to reactivate those aid convoys and solidarity delegations to alleviate the suffering of the Gaza population.
The committee denounced the Egyptian ban on entry of the delegation, demanding a full opening of the Rafah terminal and allowing all delegations free entry into the besieged enclave to extend badly needed medical and humanitarian aid especially after the severe losses suffered during the recent cold spell that hit the Strip.
The committee asked all free people of the world and heads of previous aid convoys to Gaza to reactivate those aid convoys and solidarity delegations to alleviate the suffering of the Gaza population.
10 jan 2014
The Hamas Movement categorically denied the Egyptian claims that the two Palestinians who were allegedly detained in Ismailia governorate had entered the country illegally. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated on Thursday that these two Palestinians are legal passengers and were arrested during their travel.
Abu Zuhri added that one of the passengers, Khaled Akel, was en route to Turkey to visit his father who lives there and the other, who is a university lecturer named Hazem Al-Baz, was going to Cairo university to discuss his doctoral dissertation.
He affirmed that both of the passengers entered Egypt legally through the Rafah border crossing, and called on the Egyptian authorities to release them and stop its reprehensible attitude towards the Palestinians.
The Egyptian authorities said that it had arrested two Palestinians from Gaza as they were trying to cross a security ambush near Ismailia city, and claimed that they entered the country illegally.
Abu Zuhri added that one of the passengers, Khaled Akel, was en route to Turkey to visit his father who lives there and the other, who is a university lecturer named Hazem Al-Baz, was going to Cairo university to discuss his doctoral dissertation.
He affirmed that both of the passengers entered Egypt legally through the Rafah border crossing, and called on the Egyptian authorities to release them and stop its reprehensible attitude towards the Palestinians.
The Egyptian authorities said that it had arrested two Palestinians from Gaza as they were trying to cross a security ambush near Ismailia city, and claimed that they entered the country illegally.
8 jan 2014
Palestinian government in Gaza Strip has warned that closing crossings and preventing the entrance of construction materials and fuel would worsen the tightened siege on the enclave. Following its weekly meeting on Tuesday night, the Gaza government held the international community responsible for the continued suffering of the Palestinian people due to its silence towards the unfair Israeli siege, which it described as mass punishment.
The government's statement pointed out that the government has made efforts and contacts in order to end the Israeli siege on Gaza.
In a related issue, the government called on the Egyptian authorities to re-consider the current policy of opening Rafah crossing in reference to closing the crossing for long periods and opening it for only few days.
The Egyptian authorities closed Rafah crossing for 100 days since early July in violation of international conventions, increasing the suffering of the people of Gaza, the statement added.
The government hailed the Palestinian people's steadfastness before the current challenges and difficulties, praising the government's employees for their important role in alleviating the suffering of the people.
Furthermore, the government appreciated the Palestinian Premier Ismail Haneyya’s important speech and positive steps to achieve reconciliation and his declaration that the year 2014 would be the year of Palestinian reconciliation.
In another context, the government denounced the continued Israeli-Palestinian negotiation under US secretary of State John Kerry's auspices that only serves the occupation, renewing its rejection of any agreement resulting from the ongoing negotiations.
It called for halting the negotiation process, stressing its adherence to the Palestinian constants topped by Right of Return, Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian state and the liberation of all Palestinian territories.
It condemned the Israeli decision endorsing the construction of new settlement units in occupied West Bank, saying that negotiation resumption provides a cover to the Israeli settlement schemes.
Concerning the Palestinian refugees' situation in Syria, the government strongly denounced the continued siege imposed on Yarmouk refugee camp for 176 days in a row, where dozens of Palestinian refugees have starved to death.
The government's statement called for neutralizing the Yarmouk refugee camp in the ongoing conflict in Syria, and to allow the entry of the humanitarian relief and aid supplies.
The government's statement pointed out that the government has made efforts and contacts in order to end the Israeli siege on Gaza.
In a related issue, the government called on the Egyptian authorities to re-consider the current policy of opening Rafah crossing in reference to closing the crossing for long periods and opening it for only few days.
The Egyptian authorities closed Rafah crossing for 100 days since early July in violation of international conventions, increasing the suffering of the people of Gaza, the statement added.
The government hailed the Palestinian people's steadfastness before the current challenges and difficulties, praising the government's employees for their important role in alleviating the suffering of the people.
Furthermore, the government appreciated the Palestinian Premier Ismail Haneyya’s important speech and positive steps to achieve reconciliation and his declaration that the year 2014 would be the year of Palestinian reconciliation.
In another context, the government denounced the continued Israeli-Palestinian negotiation under US secretary of State John Kerry's auspices that only serves the occupation, renewing its rejection of any agreement resulting from the ongoing negotiations.
It called for halting the negotiation process, stressing its adherence to the Palestinian constants topped by Right of Return, Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian state and the liberation of all Palestinian territories.
It condemned the Israeli decision endorsing the construction of new settlement units in occupied West Bank, saying that negotiation resumption provides a cover to the Israeli settlement schemes.
Concerning the Palestinian refugees' situation in Syria, the government strongly denounced the continued siege imposed on Yarmouk refugee camp for 176 days in a row, where dozens of Palestinian refugees have starved to death.
The government's statement called for neutralizing the Yarmouk refugee camp in the ongoing conflict in Syria, and to allow the entry of the humanitarian relief and aid supplies.
7 jan 2014
The Egyptian army shot and wounded two Palestinian youths as they exited a tunnel from the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening.
Security sources told a Ma'an reporter in Cairo that after the two youths exited the tunnel, Egyptian border police chased them and subsequently opened fire.
The youths were taken under heavy guard to the Rafah General Hospital.
A military source said that the two youths were "smugglers" and would be taken for interrogation in order to discern the reasons for their crossing to the Egyptian side.
Until July of this year, tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt provided a vital lifeline for the territory amidst the otherwise crippling Israeli blockade.
Since the coup against Egyptian president Morsi in July, however, Egypt has strictly enforced the blockade and targeted the tunnels.
The blockade has been in place since 2006, and it has limited imports and exports and led to a major economic decline and wide-reaching humanitarian crisis.
Security sources told a Ma'an reporter in Cairo that after the two youths exited the tunnel, Egyptian border police chased them and subsequently opened fire.
The youths were taken under heavy guard to the Rafah General Hospital.
A military source said that the two youths were "smugglers" and would be taken for interrogation in order to discern the reasons for their crossing to the Egyptian side.
Until July of this year, tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt provided a vital lifeline for the territory amidst the otherwise crippling Israeli blockade.
Since the coup against Egyptian president Morsi in July, however, Egypt has strictly enforced the blockade and targeted the tunnels.
The blockade has been in place since 2006, and it has limited imports and exports and led to a major economic decline and wide-reaching humanitarian crisis.
6 jan 2014
Chairman of the Jordanian Lifeline Committee Wael al-Sakka said that a delegation of Miles of Smiles convoy is scheduled to travel to Egypt in the coming days to find out reasons behind the Egyptian rejection to the convoy’s entry to Gaza. Egyptian authorities have approved earlier the entry of the aid convoy to the besieged Strip, al-Sakka explained in a press statement, adding that Miles of Smiles convoy includes different international delegations including the Jordanian Lifeline Committee.
“We were surprised by Egypt's decision to suspend its previous approval”, he said, pointing to the international convoy's intention to send a delegation to discuss the Egyptian new decision.
Al-Saka stated that there was an Egyptian approval to allow the entry of the relief supplies needed in the Strip especially after the latest winter storm, without allowing the entry of the aid convoy's members.
“We were surprised by Egypt's decision to suspend its previous approval”, he said, pointing to the international convoy's intention to send a delegation to discuss the Egyptian new decision.
Al-Saka stated that there was an Egyptian approval to allow the entry of the relief supplies needed in the Strip especially after the latest winter storm, without allowing the entry of the aid convoy's members.
Israeli President Shimon Peres has commended what he described as “Egypt's war against Hamas”. Israeli President Shimon Peres welcomed in a meeting on Sunday with Israeli Foreign Ministry representatives the campaign of incitement launched by some Egyptian parties and media against Palestinian resistance including Hamas.
Peres also said, "We're isolated, but we're not alone. When we were being established, the Arab world wanted to annihilate us. Today the Arab world doesn't think that we're its problem."
Peres also said, "We're isolated, but we're not alone. When we were being established, the Arab world wanted to annihilate us. Today the Arab world doesn't think that we're its problem."
3 jan 2014
The Hamas Movement called on the Egyptian authorities to stop the campaign of distortion and incitement against the resistance and the Palestinian people, stressing that it did not interfere in Egypt's internal affairs. The Egyptian interior minister Mohammad Ibrahim has recently accused Hamas of training elements of the Muslim Brotherhood accused of being behind the bombing in Dakhalia.
Hamas, in a press release on Thursday evening, rejected and denied these accusations, stressing that its policy is based on not to interfere in the affairs of other countries.
It stressed its keenness on the stability and national security of Egypt, and said "the events have always proven that the Palestinian resistance is the first defender of the security of Egypt and the Arab nation."
The movement called upon the Egyptian regime and its media outlets to stop the ongoing incitement and smear campaign against the resistance and the Palestinian people, as it serves only the Israeli occupation and encourages it to intensify the blockade and commit more crimes against the Palestinian people.
Hamas, in a press release on Thursday evening, rejected and denied these accusations, stressing that its policy is based on not to interfere in the affairs of other countries.
It stressed its keenness on the stability and national security of Egypt, and said "the events have always proven that the Palestinian resistance is the first defender of the security of Egypt and the Arab nation."
The movement called upon the Egyptian regime and its media outlets to stop the ongoing incitement and smear campaign against the resistance and the Palestinian people, as it serves only the Israeli occupation and encourages it to intensify the blockade and commit more crimes against the Palestinian people.
The Hamas Movement categorically denied Egyptian claims that it had provided military training and logistic support for members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in the Gaza Strip. "The accusations that were made by the Egyptian interior ministry against the Hamas Movement about providing logistic support for the perpetrators of Al-Dakahlia bombing are false and unfounded," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated in a press release on Thursday.
The spokesman emphasized that the Egyptian officials keep making accusations against Hamas in an attempt to export their failure to address their country's internal problems to Gaza.
The spokesman emphasized that the Egyptian officials keep making accusations against Hamas in an attempt to export their failure to address their country's internal problems to Gaza.
2 jan 2014
A spokesman for the Hamas movement on Thursday denied Egyptian claims that Hamas provided support to the perpetrators of the Dec. 24 explosion in Egypt's Dakahlia governorate.
Sami Abu Zuhri said the Egyptian minister of interior's claims that Hamas provided logistical support for the attack were "false and unfounded."
Such claims are an attempt to misguide Egyptians, Abu Zuhri said in statement.
Earlier Thursday, Egyptian media reported that Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim accused Hamas of providing support to "terrorists" in the city of Mansoura.
Ibrahim "claimed a Muslim Brotherhood member had admitted to involvement in various crimes in Mansoura and to having links with Hamas," according to al-Ahram.
The Brotherhood member "admitted receiving weapons training in Gaza," Ibrahim was quoted as saying.
At least 12 people were killed and over 130 injured on Dec. 24 when two explosions hit an Interior Ministry building in Mansoura.
The militant group Ansar Beit El-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Brotherhood, which has denied any involvement and condemned the bombing, was designated a "terrorist" organization by the Egyptian government last week.
Sami Abu Zuhri said the Egyptian minister of interior's claims that Hamas provided logistical support for the attack were "false and unfounded."
Such claims are an attempt to misguide Egyptians, Abu Zuhri said in statement.
Earlier Thursday, Egyptian media reported that Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim accused Hamas of providing support to "terrorists" in the city of Mansoura.
Ibrahim "claimed a Muslim Brotherhood member had admitted to involvement in various crimes in Mansoura and to having links with Hamas," according to al-Ahram.
The Brotherhood member "admitted receiving weapons training in Gaza," Ibrahim was quoted as saying.
At least 12 people were killed and over 130 injured on Dec. 24 when two explosions hit an Interior Ministry building in Mansoura.
The militant group Ansar Beit El-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Brotherhood, which has denied any involvement and condemned the bombing, was designated a "terrorist" organization by the Egyptian government last week.
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