The Sound of Silence: Egypt's Complicity in the Suffering of Gaza
In the wake of the Israeli regime's invasion of Gaza, it is disheartening to observe the lack of moral responsibility demonstrated by various governments across the globe. Among these, the Egyptian government has particularly fallen short. Over 27,000 Palestinian civilians were killed, yet Egypt, the most populous Arab nation that has borders with the Gaza Strip, has failed to uphold its humanitarian commitments.
Today, within the Arab world, a contrast emerges vis-à-vis the tragedy unfolding in Gaza. Yemen, for instance, has actively engaged in confrontation with both Israel and the United States to lend support to Palestinian resistance in Gaza, even expressing regret for its lack of a land border with occupied Palestine, hindering its capacity to stop the war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli regime. On the other hand, some Arab governments, such as Bahrain, have decided to effectively align themselves with Israel by joining a US-led naval coalition against Yemen, let alone refusing to denounce the ongoing crimes committed by Israel.
Amidst this complex landscape, Egypt's shameful inaction cannot be ignored. As a country sharing a land border with the besieged Gaza Strip, Cairo possesses the potential to exert significant influence in aiding civilians in the Palestinian enclave.
The Egyptian government is under unprecedented pressure from the international community to demonstrate its independence by allowing humanitarian convoys to pass through the Rafah crossing, which links Egypt and Gaza. In an attempt to appease the growing public sentiment, Egypt has turned to making inflammatory but empty promises similar to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan statements. Regrettably, these statements have proven to be mere lip service, devoid of tangible impact, as Egypt has maintained the closest relations with Israel.
Nevertheless, a critical question arises: why does Egypt persist in refusing to accept refugees from Gaza and opposing their forced resettlement plan on the Sinai Peninsula? At first glance, this may appear as a commendable act of defiance against the US-Israeli schemes. But a closer look reveals that this position makes sense only in the context of Egypt's own interests. Accepting Gaza's population, which stands at 2.6 million, would undoubtedly trigger a refugee crisis. As a matter of fact, given the current economic constraints faced by Egypt's fragile economy, which is reliant on cheap wheat from Russia to sustain itself, accommodating hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees would prove an insurmountable financial burden. Moreover, looking at the experiences of countries hosting Palestinian refugees demonstrates that refugee camps become hotbeds of resistance movements.
Cairo's weak position manifested itself when the Israeli regime's legal team at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague insulted the Egyptian government. Tal Becker, Legal Counselor of Israel's Foreign Ministry, openly maligned Egyptian authorities in his petition. Surprisingly, despite Becker's offensive remarks, Egyptian officials have failed to respond to any of his derogatory statements.
In the meantime, Israeli authorities have blocked the passage of thousands of trucks carrying vital supplies, such as food and medical aid, causing a jam from Arish, which is 40 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, to the Rafah crossing. This obstruction further exposes Egypt's close coordination with the Israeli regime.
Unfortunately, Cairo appears to be the biggest loser in the wake of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, having shown itself to be docile to orders from Washington and Tel Aviv, ultimately damaging its political standing within the Islamic world.
Deeply troubling is the fact that Egypt has not taken any action to honor its moral obligations. The Palestinian people, in their ongoing struggle for freedom, deserve unwavering support from all countries, particularly those in close proximity to Gaza. Egypt's current stance not only undermines its international standing but also perpetuates the suffering of the Palestinian people. It is high time for Egypt to reassess its priorities and demonstrate the moral courage that the situation demands.
