Egypt rejects Netanyahu's accusations, reaffirms role in leading peace

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
3 Sep 2024 17:47

Cairo has rejected the claims of the Israeli Prime Minister following a long speech were he attempted to divert blame for the death of six captives.

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An Egyptian ambulance carrying the body of a Palestinian martyr who died at an Egyptian hospital after being injured by Israeli occupation forces, crosses the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip, on November 27, 2023. (AP)

Egypt categorically rejected the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who spoke extensively to justify "Israel's" occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor on Monday.

The Egyptian government had signed an agreement with the Israeli regime, which seeks to manage the affairs of the Philadelphi Corridor, an area on the Palestinian side of the Palestinian-Egyptian border in the southern Gaza Strip.

In May this year, Israeli occupation forces launched their ground invasion into Rafah and focused their efforts on occupying the Philadelphi Corridor, including the Rafah border crossing.

During Monday's media address, Netanyahu mentioned Egypt on several occasions in order "to distract Israeli public opinion, hinder reaching a ceasefire agreement, and obstruct Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediation efforts," a statement from Egypt's Foreign Ministry read.

Netanyahu criticized Egypt during his speech and claimed that it failed to secure its border with the Gaza Strip, which emboldened the Palestinian Resistance. After the Israeli regime decided to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Palestinian authorities took rightful control of the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah border crossing.

The Egyptian statement held the Israeli government responsible for "the consequences of making such statements that exacerbate the situation, aim to justify aggressive and inciting policies, and lead to further escalation in the region."

"The Arab Republic of Egypt affirms its commitment to continuing its historical role in leading the peace process in the region, which contributes to preserving regional peace and security and achieving stability for all the peoples of the region," the statement concluded.

Netanyahu has been subject to exuberant pressure and criticism after six Israeli captives, including a dual-citizen with an American nationality, were killed in the southern Gaza Strip and their bodies were recovered on Sunday.

According to Israeli media outlets, Israeli security and military officials warned of the exact scenario if a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian Resistance was not reached.

A corridor paved with bodies

Netanyahu and his ministers know that the Israeli army's presence on the Gaza-Egypt border was never a deterrent element, Haaretz reported in an analysis. The actual goal, according to the Israeli newspaper, is to keep "Israel" in Gaza forever, which it dubbed as "evil'.

Haaretz blamed Netanyahu for systematically creating the conditions that led to the killing of the six captives recently recovered.

With the Israeli PM considering control over the Philadelphi route "a diplomatic and strategic issue" and the security cabinet voting in favor of leaving Israeli forces there, the result was more bodies of captives retrieved.

Making matters worse for Netanyahu, three of the six captives were given the green light for release in the initial stage of a possible prisoner exchange agreement back in May. However, Israeli authorities, headed by the prime minister, back-tracked on a deal that they had proposed and steered negotiations into a dead end.

The newspaper insists that the security cabinet's decision reflects the disgrace of those who prioritized what it called a "hollow strategy" over human life. Moreover, it ignores the stance of the army and Shin Bet people who believe that "Israel" can forgo control over the route, at least for a limited time.