Egyptian officials are facing mounting criticism and accusations from Hamas, particularly over their control of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which has sparked fears of escalating tensions with Israel.
Egyptian authorities are under pressure, especially after the Gaza-based Hamas leadership publicly challenged Egypt to open the Rafah crossing for full humanitarian aid access, demanding that Egypt act against what it calls Israeli "plans to expel" Palestinians from Gaza.
Egypt’s delicate position was underscored by an interview on Al-Arabiya with Osama al-Daleel, a journalist close to the Egyptian government. He highlighted Egypt’s fear that opening the Rafah crossing unconditionally could lead to a wider military conflict with Israel along the 245 km border between the two nations.
The Rafah crossing, which has been a focal point in Gaza's ongoing humanitarian crisis, is controlled by Egypt, though Israel has jurisdiction over the Palestinian side. Egypt has insisted that it keep its side of the crossing open to facilitate humanitarian aid.
However, the operation hinges on coordination with Israel, which checks the aid shipments before allowing them into Gaza. Despite this, Hamas has accused Egypt of inflating aid figures, criticizing the nation for not doing enough to alleviate Gaza's suffering.
The dispute took a dramatic turn when Hamas Deputy Political Bureau Chief, Khalil al-Hayya, made a public statement urging Egyptians and Jordanians to push for the crossing's full opening. Al-Hayya's call for action ignited a harsh response from Egyptian officials, including President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who defended Egypt’s stance on the issue.
Speaking to the media, el-Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to facilitating humanitarian aid but stressed that the operation of Rafah depends on the cooperation of both sides. He urged Egyptians to refrain from criticizing their government's efforts, stating that Egypt has long been a key player in providing aid to Gaza.
However, Hamas remained unyielding, accusing Egypt of misrepresenting the amount of aid reaching Gaza. The Gaza-based terror group claimed that Egypt's numbers were exaggerated and demanded the immediate and unconditional opening of the Rafah crossing.
Pressure exacerbates tensions between Muslim Brotherhood, Egyptian government
The continued verbal sparring between Hamas and Egypt highlights the deep-rooted tensions between the two, exacerbated by Egypt's historical position against Hamas due to the group's ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt considers a terrorist organization.
Amira Oron, a former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, provided further context to the situation, explaining that while Egypt deals pragmatically with Hamas due to geographical proximity, the relationship has been fraught with ideological differences.
Egypt has historically viewed Hamas as an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood, a movement that Egypt has outlawed. However, Egypt’s strategic interests in maintaining order along its border with Gaza have necessitated cooperation, despite these tensions.
The Rafah crossing issue is also entwined with Egypt's broader regional concerns, including its relationship with Israel. The Egyptian government is keen on avoiding a direct confrontation with Israel over the crossing, knowing that such an escalation could trigger broader hostilities in the region.
Egypt has made clear that its priority is a ceasefire, which would reduce both internal and external criticism and allow humanitarian aid to flow more freely into Gaza.