Gaza flare-up leaves new 'Israel'-Egypt tensions boiling
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The Egyptians, who were key players in the ceasefire talks, were reportedly furious at what they considered one-sided Israeli actions.
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Rockets fired by Palestinians toward Israel, in Gaza City, August 5, 2022. (AP/Fatima Shbair)
The Egyptians, who were crucial participants in the ceasefire talks, were enraged by what they saw as one-sided Israeli tactics, Israeli media reported.
Away from the media, tension is boiling between "Israel" and Egypt. The two are clashing over the ceasefire that was agreed upon in Gaza two weeks ago.
Egypt was the primary negotiator between "Israel", and Islamic Jihad and it was Cairo that ultimately brokered the ceasefire. However, it appears that "Israel" has stomped on Egypt's toes.
Read next: 'Israel' launches aggression on Gaza Strip
The ceasefire went into force about midnight on Sunday, August 7. Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke with Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah al-Sissi on Monday evening.
The subsequent statement released by Lapid’s office revealed that the prime minister had thanked the Egyptian President for his “crucial role” in reaching an agreement and that Sissi had “raised the Palestinian issue,” Haaretz Israeli newspaper reported.
The Israeli aggression began exactly a week earlier after the arrest of a senior figure in the organization, Bassam al-Saadi, in Jenin in the West Bank.
Read next: IOF assassinate Resistance leader Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi, 2 others
During Lapid and Sissi's talks, another operation was planned. The "Shin Bet" security service and "Yamam" special forces were ready to attack Ibrahim al-Nabulsi in Nablus.
The Israeli occupation forces retreated from Nablus after a large-scale military offensive that lasted more than three hours.
Local sources reported that violent confrontations erupted between the Resistance fighters and the IOF, which stormed the old town in the governorate.
The sources added that the IOF surrounded a house and fired a number of guided missiles at it. Al-Nabulsi was then murdered by the occupation.
The Egyptians were enraged. They had anticipated that the dialogue between Sissi and Lapid would be directed at the Israeli Security Forces, but that didn't happen. Cairo believed the events in Nablus were pure Israeli "meddling."
Cairo is furious
Cairo was furious after the immediate lead-up to the Gaza operation and the three days of aggression. When Islamic Jihad promised to retaliate over Saadi's detention, the IOF retaliated by shutting highways near Gaza and preparing for a preemptive strike.
That afternoon, Lapid and Security Minister Benny Gantz approved the IOF and "Shin Bet" to murder Taiseer Al-Jaabari, the commander of Islamic Jihad in northern Gaza. The choice was made based on accurate information about Jabari's whereabouts.
Read next: PIJ: "Israel" stalling execution armistice terms
The same evening, as Egypt claimed to be close to a ceasefire deal, "Israel" murdered Jabari's counterpart in southern Gaza, Khaled Mansour. Egypt also wanted the ceasefire announcement to include a statement saying Cairo will work to free Saadi and Khalil Awawdeh.
Lapid's office said in response: "Israel appreciates Egyptian assistance in ending Operation Breaking Dawn, and Prime Minister Lapid even personally thanked President Sissi for it. At the same time, Israel has acted and will continue to act based on its security interests and its considerations in its fight against terrorism in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and elsewhere."
