Egypt warns Israel against targeting Palestinian factions
Egypt has offered to host Palestinian factions in the country, and has given a strong warning to Israel cautioning that targeting the factions on Egyptian territory would bring about “dire consequences”, as reported by Middle East Monitor via Al Akhbar on September 12th.
According to Middle East Eye on September 12th, Egyptian intelligence has uncovered Israeli plans to assassinate senior Hamas officials in Egypt, which likely prompted the sharp warning. This comes against the backdrop of the Israeli strike in Doha on September 9th, which targeted Hamas officials who were discussing U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire proposal. ABC News reported on September 10th that the strike killed lower-ranking Hamas members but reportedly missed senior leaders.
Following the attack in Doha, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning threatening to target Hamas regardless of where the group is situated.
“I say to Qatar and all nations who harbour terrorists: you either expel them or you bring them to justice. Because if you don’t, we will,” Netanyahu said.
The Doha attack reportedly replaced an earlier plan to conduct an assassination in Turkey, which according to sources, Israeli leaders deemed too risky because of Ankara’s NATO membership and the potential for this to cause a diplomatic fallout.
Relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv seem to be at their lowest point in years. Ceasefire negotiations over Gaza remain stalled, with Egypt accusing Israel of blocking aid via the Kerem Shalom crossing and rejecting Cairo’s proposals on the type and volume of humanitarian provisions. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty reinforced this stance in meetings with Qatari officials, discussing “ways to confront the dangerous Israeli escalation” and expressed full solidarity with Doha.
Egypt has showed its willingness to position itself for a broader security role by deploying troops for a potential UN-mandated international force in Gaza, demonstrating a readiness to stabilise the Strip after the ongoing conflict. Moreover, reports show that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are coordinating a political front to restrain Israeli expansionism and push for an Arab consensus on Gaza’s future.
Middle East Monitor via Al Akhbar, Middle East Eye, ABC News, Maghrebi.org
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