8 mar 2014
Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said the Egyptian judiciary ruling to ban the movement's activities in Egypt is a political decision par excellence. Hamdan said in an interview on Saturday that the decision represents a coup against the historic position of the Egyptian people, who have always been alongside the Palestinian resistance in the face of Israel.
"The verdict presents Israel as a friend, while it shows the resistance as a terrorist organization", the Hamas official added.
He pointed out that the decision was taken without listening to the movement, and was based on fabrications and lies.
"The verdict presents Israel as a friend, while it shows the resistance as a terrorist organization", the Hamas official added.
He pointed out that the decision was taken without listening to the movement, and was based on fabrications and lies.
Saudi Arabia on Friday listed the social movement of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group along with other groups in the region. The Saudi interior ministry stated that the list of terrorist groups was issued by a joint committee composed of the ministries of interior and foreign affairs, the ministry of Islamic affairs, the ministry of justice, the office of the ombudsman, the bureau of investigation and prosecution.
The ministry added that this list would be periodically updated by this committee.
It also demanded any Saudi citizen fighting abroad to return within 15 days or face prosecution.
King Abdullah Al Saud last month decreed prison terms of up to 20 years for belonging to blacklisted groups and fighting abroad.
Similar sentences will be passed on those affiliated with religious and ideological groups seen by the kingdom or classified internationally as extremist or terrorist.
Under the Saudi monarch's decree, supporting such groups, adopting their ideology or promoting them through speech or writing would also incur prison terms.
Political analysts stated that the Saudi decision to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group was politically-motivated related to the events in Egypt and the Saudi support for the "tyrannical regime" there.
They also said that such a step by Saudi Arabia would undermine its position as a country spreading Islamic values and supporting the Muslim Nation's noble causes, especially since the Muslim Brotherhood is known for its peaceful popular moves and respected widely by the Muslim Nation for its charitable and religious activities and its resistance of Zionism.
For its part, the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan expressed its shock and dismay at the Saudi decision to classify it as a terrorist group and described it as unexpected and emotionally impulsive.
Deputy secretary-general of the group in Jordan Zaki Bani Irshid said in a statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the sole beneficiaries of such decision against the Muslim Brotherhood is the "Zionist entity" and the "criminal regimes in Egypt and Syria".
Bani Irshid called on Saudi Arabi and some Arab Gulf countries to reconsider their positions against the Muslim Brotherhood, affirming that banning the group in their countries is not in the best interest of the Arab Nation.
The ministry added that this list would be periodically updated by this committee.
It also demanded any Saudi citizen fighting abroad to return within 15 days or face prosecution.
King Abdullah Al Saud last month decreed prison terms of up to 20 years for belonging to blacklisted groups and fighting abroad.
Similar sentences will be passed on those affiliated with religious and ideological groups seen by the kingdom or classified internationally as extremist or terrorist.
Under the Saudi monarch's decree, supporting such groups, adopting their ideology or promoting them through speech or writing would also incur prison terms.
Political analysts stated that the Saudi decision to classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group was politically-motivated related to the events in Egypt and the Saudi support for the "tyrannical regime" there.
They also said that such a step by Saudi Arabia would undermine its position as a country spreading Islamic values and supporting the Muslim Nation's noble causes, especially since the Muslim Brotherhood is known for its peaceful popular moves and respected widely by the Muslim Nation for its charitable and religious activities and its resistance of Zionism.
For its part, the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan expressed its shock and dismay at the Saudi decision to classify it as a terrorist group and described it as unexpected and emotionally impulsive.
Deputy secretary-general of the group in Jordan Zaki Bani Irshid said in a statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the sole beneficiaries of such decision against the Muslim Brotherhood is the "Zionist entity" and the "criminal regimes in Egypt and Syria".
Bani Irshid called on Saudi Arabi and some Arab Gulf countries to reconsider their positions against the Muslim Brotherhood, affirming that banning the group in their countries is not in the best interest of the Arab Nation.
Palestinian government in Gaza Strip condemned Egyptian authorities' decision to prevent solidarity women delegation's access to the besieged Strip after detaining the delegation members at Cairo International Airport then deporting them. Egyptian authorities have barred a solidarity women delegation, comprising 83 women from Arab and foreign countries, from entering Gaza Strip to mark the International Women's Day with Palestinian women in the besieged Strip.
Gaza Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mohammed Al-Madhoun condemned, on Thursday, barring access of international women delegation, led by the Algerian icon Djamila Bouhired, to Gaza to mark the International Women's Day.
He described the solidarity convoys to break the Israeli siege as the lifeline to the besieged enclave.
Gaza Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mohammed Al-Madhoun condemned, on Thursday, barring access of international women delegation, led by the Algerian icon Djamila Bouhired, to Gaza to mark the International Women's Day.
He described the solidarity convoys to break the Israeli siege as the lifeline to the besieged enclave.
Palestinian children lie in the sand with their hands clasped next to their national flags during a rally against the siege on the impoverished Gaza Strip in the coastal town of Rafah on March 7, 2014
Thousands of Hamas supporters rallied in the Gaza Strip on Friday to protest against a Cairo court decision banning the Palestinian Islamist movement from operating in Egypt.
Waving Egyptian flags and Hamas banners, the demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers and then marched to the former Egyptian embassy which has been closed since 2007.
The marchers held aloft placards called on Egypt to revoke Tuesday's decision, including to seize Hamas' assets, chanting "resistance, our way is resistance!"
Egypt has accused Hamas of colluding in attacks on its territory in the past few years, and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood movement of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
Hamas slammed the ruling as playing into the hands of its arch-enemy Israel, calling it "shocking" and warning it could "open the door to new (Israeli) aggression and war against Gaza."
Egypt never recognized Hamas's rule in Gaza after it forcibly ousted the more moderate Fatah party of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas from Gaza in 2007.
But it hosted Hamas' deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuk following Mubarak's overthrow in February 2011, and eased passage through its Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
Morsi, elected in June 2012, was seen as further bolstering the militant group's power in Gaza by mediating a 2012 truce ending week-long fighting with Israel and that lifted some of the blockade restrictions on Gaza.
Since ousting him, the military has destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under its border with the coastal enclave, alleging they were used to smuggle weapons and militants who have taken part in attacks on Egyptian security forces.
Hayya calls on Egypt to revoke its decision to ban Hamas
Member of Hamas' political bureau Khalil Al-Hayya urged Egypt to backtrack on its decision to ban his Movement in the country, warning that the Israeli occupation regime would exploit the Egyptian position against Hamas to wage a new aggressive war and tighten its blockade on the Gaza Strip. Hayya made his remarks in a speech during a massive rally organized on Friday afternoon by the Hamas Movement outside the building of the Egyptian embassy in Gaza.
The Hamas official stressed that Hamas was founded more than a quarter of a century ago and its policies and goals, including the principal of not interfering in other countries' affairs, are clearly known to all Arab countries.
"Have Egypt's politicians and media figures remembered now that we belong to the Muslim Brotherhood school? We do not feel ashamed of that, but as a Palestinian resistance movement, we do not interfere in the affairs of others," Hayya underlined.
"Hamas is Hamas, never changed its faith and goals, but the others are the ones who are changing," he emphasized.
"All fabrications and media lies have failed to prove that Hamas interfered in the Egyptian affairs, and employing the judiciary in this regard is a step which we do want to see Egypt do," he added.
In another incident, dozens of Palestinian young men and children protested Egypt's involvement in the blockade on the Gaza Strip at the fishing harbor in Rafah area.
The protestors carried banners condemning the blockade and the international and Arab passivity towards the suffering of the besieged population in Gaza.
Some children buried themselves to the necks in the sand to express their humanitarian suffering from the tight siege imposed by Egypt and Israel.
The protest was organized by the Palestinian youth coalition in Gaza.
Thousands of Hamas supporters rallied in the Gaza Strip on Friday to protest against a Cairo court decision banning the Palestinian Islamist movement from operating in Egypt.
Waving Egyptian flags and Hamas banners, the demonstrators gathered after Friday prayers and then marched to the former Egyptian embassy which has been closed since 2007.
The marchers held aloft placards called on Egypt to revoke Tuesday's decision, including to seize Hamas' assets, chanting "resistance, our way is resistance!"
Egypt has accused Hamas of colluding in attacks on its territory in the past few years, and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood movement of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
Hamas slammed the ruling as playing into the hands of its arch-enemy Israel, calling it "shocking" and warning it could "open the door to new (Israeli) aggression and war against Gaza."
Egypt never recognized Hamas's rule in Gaza after it forcibly ousted the more moderate Fatah party of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas from Gaza in 2007.
But it hosted Hamas' deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuk following Mubarak's overthrow in February 2011, and eased passage through its Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
Morsi, elected in June 2012, was seen as further bolstering the militant group's power in Gaza by mediating a 2012 truce ending week-long fighting with Israel and that lifted some of the blockade restrictions on Gaza.
Since ousting him, the military has destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under its border with the coastal enclave, alleging they were used to smuggle weapons and militants who have taken part in attacks on Egyptian security forces.
Hayya calls on Egypt to revoke its decision to ban Hamas
Member of Hamas' political bureau Khalil Al-Hayya urged Egypt to backtrack on its decision to ban his Movement in the country, warning that the Israeli occupation regime would exploit the Egyptian position against Hamas to wage a new aggressive war and tighten its blockade on the Gaza Strip. Hayya made his remarks in a speech during a massive rally organized on Friday afternoon by the Hamas Movement outside the building of the Egyptian embassy in Gaza.
The Hamas official stressed that Hamas was founded more than a quarter of a century ago and its policies and goals, including the principal of not interfering in other countries' affairs, are clearly known to all Arab countries.
"Have Egypt's politicians and media figures remembered now that we belong to the Muslim Brotherhood school? We do not feel ashamed of that, but as a Palestinian resistance movement, we do not interfere in the affairs of others," Hayya underlined.
"Hamas is Hamas, never changed its faith and goals, but the others are the ones who are changing," he emphasized.
"All fabrications and media lies have failed to prove that Hamas interfered in the Egyptian affairs, and employing the judiciary in this regard is a step which we do want to see Egypt do," he added.
In another incident, dozens of Palestinian young men and children protested Egypt's involvement in the blockade on the Gaza Strip at the fishing harbor in Rafah area.
The protestors carried banners condemning the blockade and the international and Arab passivity towards the suffering of the besieged population in Gaza.
Some children buried themselves to the necks in the sand to express their humanitarian suffering from the tight siege imposed by Egypt and Israel.
The protest was organized by the Palestinian youth coalition in Gaza.
7 mar 2014
An Italian convoy upon arriving at the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing after being stuck in Egypt for a week
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.
But the Egyptian authorities stopped them at Cairo airport, and have already deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire and American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin who wanted to join the delegation.
On Thursday, the authorities had prevented about 45 activists, mostly from France, from entering the country, an organiser of the delegation told AFP.
Prior to travelling, the group had asked to pass through the Rafah crossing in northern Sinai, but the authorities urged them to abandon the trip, foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said.
The group was told "the timing was not appropriate... given the current extraordinary security conditions in northern Sinai and the difficulty of ensuring the security of the activist group until they reached the Rafah crossing," he said.
On Thursday, Egyptian authorities proposed 27 of the activists be deported, but they refused as they did want to leave without the other women, the organiser said.
But Egypt allowed about 30 women to enter the country, and this group was trying to reach Gaza, the organiser said, adding the delegation was still negotiating with the authorities.
The Rafah terminal saw frequent closures since the Egyptian military deposed the freely-elected president in early July 2013.
Since then, Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing, leading to an extreme decline in the number of solidarity and aid delegations bound for Gaza.
A government committee report published recently marked a significant decrease in the number of aid delegations to Gaza during January and February of 2014.
Foreign ministry’s ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ said it received three delegations of 32 members last January.
The number of delegations decreased by 95% compared to the same period last year, where the committee received 97 delegations of 2500 supporters, the committee added.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
AFP contributed to this report.
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.
But the Egyptian authorities stopped them at Cairo airport, and have already deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire and American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin who wanted to join the delegation.
On Thursday, the authorities had prevented about 45 activists, mostly from France, from entering the country, an organiser of the delegation told AFP.
Prior to travelling, the group had asked to pass through the Rafah crossing in northern Sinai, but the authorities urged them to abandon the trip, foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty said.
The group was told "the timing was not appropriate... given the current extraordinary security conditions in northern Sinai and the difficulty of ensuring the security of the activist group until they reached the Rafah crossing," he said.
On Thursday, Egyptian authorities proposed 27 of the activists be deported, but they refused as they did want to leave without the other women, the organiser said.
But Egypt allowed about 30 women to enter the country, and this group was trying to reach Gaza, the organiser said, adding the delegation was still negotiating with the authorities.
The Rafah terminal saw frequent closures since the Egyptian military deposed the freely-elected president in early July 2013.
Since then, Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing, leading to an extreme decline in the number of solidarity and aid delegations bound for Gaza.
A government committee report published recently marked a significant decrease in the number of aid delegations to Gaza during January and February of 2014.
Foreign ministry’s ‘Government Committee to Break the Siege’ said it received three delegations of 32 members last January.
The number of delegations decreased by 95% compared to the same period last year, where the committee received 97 delegations of 2500 supporters, the committee added.
The Rafah crossing has been the principal connection between Gaza's 1.7 million residents and the outside world since the imposition of an economic blockade by Israel beginning in 2007.
AFP contributed to this report.
Egypt's decision last week to ban the Hamas movement could lead to a new attack on Gaza by Israel's military, a Hamas official said Friday.
"We want calm, peace, and stability for Egypt, we want it's people to achieve the values of justice, freedom and equality and relinquish injustice. We don't want it to get involved in besieging Palestinians," Khalil al-Hayya said during a protest in front of the Egyptian embassy in Gaza.
Al-Hayya called on politicians and officials in Egypt to stop targeting Hamas and reiterated that the movement does not intervene in the internal affairs of any Arab nation.
"We are not ashamed of belonging to the (Muslim) Brotherhood school, but we are a Palestinian resistance movement and we did not interfere in any state.
"The profound relationship with Egypt cannot end by an unjust decision by a momentary court that did not take into account the depth of the relationship between the two peoples."
On Tuesday, an Egyptian court banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized.
Days later, Egypt's Day Seven news website reported that Egyptian authorities were planning to revoke the citizenship of 13,757 Hamas members for being "affiliated to an offshoot of the terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood."
Ties between Cairo and Hamas flourished during president Mohamed Morsi's year in power but have drastically deteriorated since a military coup in July last year which saw the Muslim Brotherhood leader ousted from power.
Cairo's new military-installed authorities launched a deadly crackdown on protests by supporters of Morsi, killing in excess of 1,400 people.
"We want calm, peace, and stability for Egypt, we want it's people to achieve the values of justice, freedom and equality and relinquish injustice. We don't want it to get involved in besieging Palestinians," Khalil al-Hayya said during a protest in front of the Egyptian embassy in Gaza.
Al-Hayya called on politicians and officials in Egypt to stop targeting Hamas and reiterated that the movement does not intervene in the internal affairs of any Arab nation.
"We are not ashamed of belonging to the (Muslim) Brotherhood school, but we are a Palestinian resistance movement and we did not interfere in any state.
"The profound relationship with Egypt cannot end by an unjust decision by a momentary court that did not take into account the depth of the relationship between the two peoples."
On Tuesday, an Egyptian court banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized.
Days later, Egypt's Day Seven news website reported that Egyptian authorities were planning to revoke the citizenship of 13,757 Hamas members for being "affiliated to an offshoot of the terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood."
Ties between Cairo and Hamas flourished during president Mohamed Morsi's year in power but have drastically deteriorated since a military coup in July last year which saw the Muslim Brotherhood leader ousted from power.
Cairo's new military-installed authorities launched a deadly crackdown on protests by supporters of Morsi, killing in excess of 1,400 people.
6 mar 2014
by Huda Julie Webb-Pullman
What the? Israel carries out ANOTHER blatant act of piracy in international waters? And expects the world to believe the fiction they were headed for Gaza? A country under Israeli naval blockade for the last seven years???
Even the BB boys Bush and Blair managed better Words of Mass Deception than THAT!
Of course it is AIPAC week, so we can expect a series of attention-seeking missiles across the bows to distract the public from the spectacle of servility and sycophancy assaulting our senses from Washington. But a freaking great shipload of M302’s to go where even Gaza’s fishermen fear to row?!! I don’t think so.
Such nonsense is surpassed only by Netanyahu’s AIPAC-aired demand for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, which is neither part of the agreed negotiating terms nor even part of any recognised approach to international diplomacy. Does EVERY country have to recognise Israel as such? When and where can we all join the “Israel is a Jewish state” club? At the same time as we join the “Egypt and the Ukraine are democracies” clubs, perhaps?
Not only is it AIPAC week, but also Ukraine week, where the self-proclaimed government in Kiev just appointed dual Israeli-Ukranian citizen Igor Kolomoysky as governor of Dnepropetrovsk. He also happens to be the third richest man in the Ukraine, which may help overcome the difficulty of governing a Ukranian region from his home in Switzerland…
And Cairo week was also a bit of a coup, with a court managingto ban the activities of Palestinian political party Hamas in Egypt. Who cares about legal niceties such as presenting evidence, or the right to mount a defence when you have enough kangaroos jumping around to keep all eyes off who is filling their pouches?
And Gaza week – well, that is every week. Forget the truce – that is only for the Palestinians. Israel assassinated two young men this week in a drone strike, in a blatant breach. And militants aren’t their only targets. From the scrap collector shot in the head to the middle-aged woman shot in the stomach, the football players shot in the legs and feet to end their potential careers, civilians are being killed and maimed daily. Since 20 December 2013, 55 Gazan civilians have been injured ON THEIR OWN SIDE OF THE BORDER by Israeli soldiers – 43 by live fire, 10 by rubber-coated metal bullets, and two hit in the head by canisters.
But that’s Israel. That’s Egypt. That’s Gaza.
Gaza, the elephant at the so-called peace talks.
Gaza, already reeling from seven years of siege and the theft of its water by Israel, now facing certain strangulation from the south.
Gaza, the Yarmouk about to happen, but from which everyone turns away.
Gaza, bordered by the magnificent Mediterranean – but which they can barely enter. Gaza, Bordered by Egypt, whose enmity has now been slammed on the tabletop, and by Israel, whose ongoing crimes speak for themselves – to a deaf world.
Gaza, land of life and love, and love of life and Allah, whatever the faction.
Gaza, between the devils and the deep blue sea.
Huda Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand activist and writer who lived in Gaza for over three years. She has written on social and political justice issues for New Zealand Independent News website SCOOP since 2003, as well as for websites in Australia, Canada, the US, and Latin America, and participated in several human rights observation missions. She contributed this article to ALRAY.
What the? Israel carries out ANOTHER blatant act of piracy in international waters? And expects the world to believe the fiction they were headed for Gaza? A country under Israeli naval blockade for the last seven years???
Even the BB boys Bush and Blair managed better Words of Mass Deception than THAT!
Of course it is AIPAC week, so we can expect a series of attention-seeking missiles across the bows to distract the public from the spectacle of servility and sycophancy assaulting our senses from Washington. But a freaking great shipload of M302’s to go where even Gaza’s fishermen fear to row?!! I don’t think so.
Such nonsense is surpassed only by Netanyahu’s AIPAC-aired demand for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, which is neither part of the agreed negotiating terms nor even part of any recognised approach to international diplomacy. Does EVERY country have to recognise Israel as such? When and where can we all join the “Israel is a Jewish state” club? At the same time as we join the “Egypt and the Ukraine are democracies” clubs, perhaps?
Not only is it AIPAC week, but also Ukraine week, where the self-proclaimed government in Kiev just appointed dual Israeli-Ukranian citizen Igor Kolomoysky as governor of Dnepropetrovsk. He also happens to be the third richest man in the Ukraine, which may help overcome the difficulty of governing a Ukranian region from his home in Switzerland…
And Cairo week was also a bit of a coup, with a court managingto ban the activities of Palestinian political party Hamas in Egypt. Who cares about legal niceties such as presenting evidence, or the right to mount a defence when you have enough kangaroos jumping around to keep all eyes off who is filling their pouches?
And Gaza week – well, that is every week. Forget the truce – that is only for the Palestinians. Israel assassinated two young men this week in a drone strike, in a blatant breach. And militants aren’t their only targets. From the scrap collector shot in the head to the middle-aged woman shot in the stomach, the football players shot in the legs and feet to end their potential careers, civilians are being killed and maimed daily. Since 20 December 2013, 55 Gazan civilians have been injured ON THEIR OWN SIDE OF THE BORDER by Israeli soldiers – 43 by live fire, 10 by rubber-coated metal bullets, and two hit in the head by canisters.
But that’s Israel. That’s Egypt. That’s Gaza.
Gaza, the elephant at the so-called peace talks.
Gaza, already reeling from seven years of siege and the theft of its water by Israel, now facing certain strangulation from the south.
Gaza, the Yarmouk about to happen, but from which everyone turns away.
Gaza, bordered by the magnificent Mediterranean – but which they can barely enter. Gaza, Bordered by Egypt, whose enmity has now been slammed on the tabletop, and by Israel, whose ongoing crimes speak for themselves – to a deaf world.
Gaza, land of life and love, and love of life and Allah, whatever the faction.
Gaza, between the devils and the deep blue sea.
Huda Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand activist and writer who lived in Gaza for over three years. She has written on social and political justice issues for New Zealand Independent News website SCOOP since 2003, as well as for websites in Australia, Canada, the US, and Latin America, and participated in several human rights observation missions. She contributed this article to ALRAY.
Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, has lashed out at the Egyptian authorities for disallowing a group of female solidarity activists from entering Cairo Airport en route to the Gaza Strip. Barhoum described in a statement on Thursday on his Facebook page the detention of those activists at Cairo Airport as an oppressive measure.
He said that the measure represented a further step in tightening the siege on Gaza and isolating it, in addition to representing a big step backward in Egypt’s role in support of the Palestine cause in general and Gaza in particular.
The growing pressure and siege on Gaza calls for greater regional and international solidarity with the besieged enclave, Barhoum said, calling for sending sea and land convoys to Gaza and fore pressuring decision-makers worldwide to end the siege on Gaza and to alleviate the suffering of its population.
The Egyptian authorities refused to allow entry of Arab and foreign female activists into Cairo on Wednesday on their way to Gaza Strip to celebrate the international women day and to denounce the siege on the coastal enclave.
He said that the measure represented a further step in tightening the siege on Gaza and isolating it, in addition to representing a big step backward in Egypt’s role in support of the Palestine cause in general and Gaza in particular.
The growing pressure and siege on Gaza calls for greater regional and international solidarity with the besieged enclave, Barhoum said, calling for sending sea and land convoys to Gaza and fore pressuring decision-makers worldwide to end the siege on Gaza and to alleviate the suffering of its population.
The Egyptian authorities refused to allow entry of Arab and foreign female activists into Cairo on Wednesday on their way to Gaza Strip to celebrate the international women day and to denounce the siege on the coastal enclave.
The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters has slated March 26 for the first hearing of a lawsuit demanding the banning of Israeli activities in Egypt. Egyptian legal expert Hamed Seddiq filed a lawsuit at the Court of Urgent Matters, which banned Hamas this week, requesting that Egyptian authorities ban all "Israeli activity" in Egypt and declare Israel a "terrorist state."
The ban, Seddiq said, would include shutting down Tel Aviv's diplomatic offices in Egypt, including its Cairo embassy.
On Tuesday, the same Cairo court that will preside over the case released a verdict banning the activities of Palestinian resistance faction Hamas in Egypt and ordering all of the movement's offices closed.
The decision has raised angry reactions in Egypt, and was seen as a support for the Israeli occupation.
The Egyptian thinker and writer Fahmi Howeidi strongly condemned the Cairo Court's decision, and said "Egypt has joined the side of Israel by considering the Islamic resistance movement as a terrorist organization."
He stressed that Hamas movement has not interfered in the affairs of Egypt neither before nor after the revolution, while Israel has been proven to have "espionage" activities against Egypt.
Fahmi pointed out that the Fatah movement is involved in the conspiracy against Hamas.
The ban, Seddiq said, would include shutting down Tel Aviv's diplomatic offices in Egypt, including its Cairo embassy.
On Tuesday, the same Cairo court that will preside over the case released a verdict banning the activities of Palestinian resistance faction Hamas in Egypt and ordering all of the movement's offices closed.
The decision has raised angry reactions in Egypt, and was seen as a support for the Israeli occupation.
The Egyptian thinker and writer Fahmi Howeidi strongly condemned the Cairo Court's decision, and said "Egypt has joined the side of Israel by considering the Islamic resistance movement as a terrorist organization."
He stressed that Hamas movement has not interfered in the affairs of Egypt neither before nor after the revolution, while Israel has been proven to have "espionage" activities against Egypt.
Fahmi pointed out that the Fatah movement is involved in the conspiracy against Hamas.
Egyptian authorities have barred a solidarity women delegation, comprising 62 women from Arab and foreign countries, from having access to Gaza Strip in order to mark the International Women's Day with Palestinian women in the besieged Strip. Egyptian authorities in Cairo airport prevented a delegation of women activists from entry to the blockaded Palestinian Strip via Rafah crossing as a prelude to deport them on Thursday morning, according to Egyptian security sources.
The sources added that the women activists, led by the Algerian independence icon Djamila Bouhired, reached Cairo airport coming from France, Belgium, United States and Austria. It is expected that a number of women human rights activists will join the solidarity delegation in the coming hours.
The women activists have protested in Cairo airport against Egyptian authorities' decision to bar their access to the besieged Strip.
The French consul arrived at the airport in an attempt to convince the international activists to travel into Gaza Strip via Israeli border crossings; however they refused to do so.
Egyptian authorities also detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire on Wednesday while on her way to visit Gaza as part of the women delegation.
Airport police have also detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation. She told AFP her arm was broken by the policemen.
"We were taken to the detention center and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by telephone from Britain after her expulsion.
Many international human rights activists declared their intention to join a delegation of women activists in solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza Strip and to demand an end to the Israeli continued siege.
The sources added that the women activists, led by the Algerian independence icon Djamila Bouhired, reached Cairo airport coming from France, Belgium, United States and Austria. It is expected that a number of women human rights activists will join the solidarity delegation in the coming hours.
The women activists have protested in Cairo airport against Egyptian authorities' decision to bar their access to the besieged Strip.
The French consul arrived at the airport in an attempt to convince the international activists to travel into Gaza Strip via Israeli border crossings; however they refused to do so.
Egyptian authorities also detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire on Wednesday while on her way to visit Gaza as part of the women delegation.
Airport police have also detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation. She told AFP her arm was broken by the policemen.
"We were taken to the detention center and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by telephone from Britain after her expulsion.
Many international human rights activists declared their intention to join a delegation of women activists in solidarity with Palestinian women in Gaza Strip and to demand an end to the Israeli continued siege.
Egyptian security services have started to collect information about thousands of Hamas members who were granted Egyptian citizenship during the rule of ousted president Mohamed Mursi, according to Egyptian media.
Egypt's Day Seven news website reported that Egyptian authorities plan revoke the citizenship of 13,757 Hamas members for being "affiliated to an offshoot of the terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood."
Egyptian authorities are investigating whether Hamas members have been involved in what they describe as "terrorist attacks," adding that the prime minister has the right to revoke the citizenship of Hamas members without a court ruling if it is deemed that they endanger public security.
The Egyptian news site blamed Mursi for facilitating the entry of Hamas supporters into Egypt and granting them citizenship.
On Tuesday, an Egyptian court banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized.
"The Egyptian judge who made the decision did not bring a single evidence incriminating Hamas. Thus, the movement considers the Egyptian decision a pure political decision rather than a judicial decision, and that decision serves the Israeli occupation," a Hamas official said following the ruling.
Ties between Cairo and Hamas flourished during president Mohamed Morsi's year in power but have drastically deteriorated since a military coup in July last year which saw the Muslim Brotherhood leader ousted from power.
Cairo's new military-installed authorities launched a deadly crackdown on protests by supporters of Morsi, killing in excess of 1,400 people.
Egyptian troops have also destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under the border with Gaza used to supply the Palestinian enclave with fuel and construction materials due to Israeli restrictions.
Hamas has denied accusations by Egyptian officials that it is involved in fighting in the Sinai Peninsula, where militant attacks on security forces have surged since July.
Egypt's Day Seven news website reported that Egyptian authorities plan revoke the citizenship of 13,757 Hamas members for being "affiliated to an offshoot of the terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood."
Egyptian authorities are investigating whether Hamas members have been involved in what they describe as "terrorist attacks," adding that the prime minister has the right to revoke the citizenship of Hamas members without a court ruling if it is deemed that they endanger public security.
The Egyptian news site blamed Mursi for facilitating the entry of Hamas supporters into Egypt and granting them citizenship.
On Tuesday, an Egyptian court banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized.
"The Egyptian judge who made the decision did not bring a single evidence incriminating Hamas. Thus, the movement considers the Egyptian decision a pure political decision rather than a judicial decision, and that decision serves the Israeli occupation," a Hamas official said following the ruling.
Ties between Cairo and Hamas flourished during president Mohamed Morsi's year in power but have drastically deteriorated since a military coup in July last year which saw the Muslim Brotherhood leader ousted from power.
Cairo's new military-installed authorities launched a deadly crackdown on protests by supporters of Morsi, killing in excess of 1,400 people.
Egyptian troops have also destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under the border with Gaza used to supply the Palestinian enclave with fuel and construction materials due to Israeli restrictions.
Hamas has denied accusations by Egyptian officials that it is involved in fighting in the Sinai Peninsula, where militant attacks on security forces have surged since July.
Hamas has accused the Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority of criticizing the movement and intervening in Palestinian internal affairs, a spokesman said Thursday.
Sami Abu Zuhri said that Hamas "denounces attempts by Egypt's ambassador to Ramallah, Wael Atiyeh, to exert pressure on some Palestinian factions to criticize Hamas."
"The movement calls upon Egypt's ambassador to stop such practices, show respect to his diplomatic position and avoid negative intervention in internal Palestinian affairs."
The Hamas spokesman expressed appreciation to Palestinian factions "for refusing to yield to pressures."
On Wednesday, Marwan Abu Ras, a Palestinian lawmaker affiliated to Hamas, told Ma'an that Egypt is no longer a neutral party in resolving the political split between Hamas and Fatah.
Earlier this week, an Egyptian court banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized.
Sami Abu Zuhri said that Hamas "denounces attempts by Egypt's ambassador to Ramallah, Wael Atiyeh, to exert pressure on some Palestinian factions to criticize Hamas."
"The movement calls upon Egypt's ambassador to stop such practices, show respect to his diplomatic position and avoid negative intervention in internal Palestinian affairs."
The Hamas spokesman expressed appreciation to Palestinian factions "for refusing to yield to pressures."
On Wednesday, Marwan Abu Ras, a Palestinian lawmaker affiliated to Hamas, told Ma'an that Egypt is no longer a neutral party in resolving the political split between Hamas and Fatah.
Earlier this week, an Egyptian court banned the activities of Hamas and ordered its assets seized.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri strongly denounced Egyptian ambassador in Ramallah Wael Attiya for inciting some Palestinian factions to take a position against his Movement in the wake of his country's recent decision to ban it. In a press release on Wednesday, spokesman Abu Zuhri demanded Attiya to refrain from such behavior and respect his diplomatic status.
He also asked him not to interfere negatively and harmfully in the internal Palestinian affairs.
The spokesman expressed his Movement's appreciation to the Palestinian factions which refused to respond to the incitement of the Egyptian ambassador.
He also asked him not to interfere negatively and harmfully in the internal Palestinian affairs.
The spokesman expressed his Movement's appreciation to the Palestinian factions which refused to respond to the incitement of the Egyptian ambassador.
Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire
Egypt detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire today after she tried to enter on her way to neighbouring Gaza, she and airport officials said.
Maguire had intended to join a delegation of women activists going to the blockaded Palestinian enclave tomorrow.
The group could embarrass Egypt's military-installed government, which is at odds with Gaza's rulers, yet does not want to be seen as party to a siege of Palestinians.
Airport police yesterday detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation. She told AFP her arm was broken by the policemen.
Maguire said she arrived at Cairo airport with fellow activist Ann Patterson last night.
"We were taken to the detention centre and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by telephone from Britain.
She said the police were "polite" but offered her no reason for barring her, but an airport official told AFP she had been blacklisted.
Maguire, born in 1944, won the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize with Betty Williams for founding a peace group to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland.
She has become a vocal supporter of the Palestinians and was expelled from Israel in 2010, after trying to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip aboard a ship with other activists.
The delegation of activists that will try to enter Gaza through the Egyptian Rafah border crossing is led by Djamila Bouhired, an icon of the Algerian war of independence from France.
She is due to arrive at Cairo airport at 1800 GMT aboard a flight from Paris, and it was not immediately clear whether she would be allowed into the country.
Egypt controls the only border crossing with Gaza that bypasses Israel, and is accused of colluding with Israel to blockade the territory ruled by Hamas.
Source: BUSINESS STANDARD
Egypt detained and deported Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and peace activist Mairead Maguire today after she tried to enter on her way to neighbouring Gaza, she and airport officials said.
Maguire had intended to join a delegation of women activists going to the blockaded Palestinian enclave tomorrow.
The group could embarrass Egypt's military-installed government, which is at odds with Gaza's rulers, yet does not want to be seen as party to a siege of Palestinians.
Airport police yesterday detained and deported American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin, also part of the delegation. She told AFP her arm was broken by the policemen.
Maguire said she arrived at Cairo airport with fellow activist Ann Patterson last night.
"We were taken to the detention centre and questioned and held for eight hours, and were told we would not be allowed entry into Cairo and would be put on a plane," she told AFP by telephone from Britain.
She said the police were "polite" but offered her no reason for barring her, but an airport official told AFP she had been blacklisted.
Maguire, born in 1944, won the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize with Betty Williams for founding a peace group to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland.
She has become a vocal supporter of the Palestinians and was expelled from Israel in 2010, after trying to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip aboard a ship with other activists.
The delegation of activists that will try to enter Gaza through the Egyptian Rafah border crossing is led by Djamila Bouhired, an icon of the Algerian war of independence from France.
She is due to arrive at Cairo airport at 1800 GMT aboard a flight from Paris, and it was not immediately clear whether she would be allowed into the country.
Egypt controls the only border crossing with Gaza that bypasses Israel, and is accused of colluding with Israel to blockade the territory ruled by Hamas.
Source: BUSINESS STANDARD
