Hamas-Egypt relations, tense since the Gaza war, worsened after Hamas refused to sign the Egypt-brokered reconciliation agreement with Fatah. The Egyptians, who had prior to the war turned a blind eye to the intensive smuggling via the Rafah tunnels, realized that the continuation of this activity threatened their interests, and decided to act resolutely to restrict it. They closed many of the tunnels and erected the "steel barrier" along the border, enraging Hamas and further straining relations – to the point where Hamas accused Egypt of participating in besieging Gaza. Following the revolution in Egypt, in early 2011, Hamas-Egypt relations improved. Hamas' leaders welcomed the Egyptian revolution and a Hamas delegation even visited Egypt and met with its new foreign minister. The Egyptians, for their part, opened the Rafah crossing in May 2011, and also played a key role in achieving the recent Fatah-Hamas reconciliation. In late 2009, Egypt harshly criticized Hamas's refusal to sign the reconciliation document, and even canceled a Hamas delegation's visit to Egypt. It accused Hamas of evading reconciliation, and rebuked its leaders, saying that they should "regard Egypt in accordance with its weight and importance, and not as a [mere] organization, movement, or faction."[i] Khaled Mash'al claimed that the reconciliation efforts had failed due to U.S. intervention.[2]A columnist for the Egyptian daily Al-Akhbar, Jalal Dweida1, said in response that Mash'al's statement was "a clear accusation that Egypt accepts U.S. dictates regarding the reconciliation [process]." He added: "We advise the mujahid Mash'al – who knows that the louder he shrieks the more richly Iran will reward him – to stop talking rubbish."[3] Mash'al also accused Egypt of participating in the Gaza siege by erecting the steel barrier between Gaza and Egypt and by restricting the movement of Hamas leaders. He said: "For years now, Gaza has been suffering from a blockade, from hunger, and from the closing of the crossings, and now it is suffering from the steel barrier that is being built between Gaza and Egypt. We have voiced harsh criticism over this and demanded that Egypt stop the construction of this barrier.[4] A senior Hamas source reported that Egypt "had refused to let Hamas's health minister leave via the Rafah crossing for a medical conference in Algeria."[5] Only following the events of the 2010 Gaza flotilla did Egypt agree to open the Rafah crossing for an unspecified period, probably in order to deflect the accusations that it was aiding the siege on Gaza. This step, however, did not improve Hamas-Egypt relations. In an interview with the Egyptian daily Al-Masri Al-Yawm, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Zahhar was asked whether the distribution in Gaza mosques of the magazine Sawt Al-Murabitoun, which contains brutal attacks on Egypt, was an indication of Hamas hostility towards Egypt. He answered: "[Then-]Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit surprised us by making statements that provoked many people,[6] so [these people] attacked him. But our relations with the [Egyptian] intelligence apparatus are good."[7] In response, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki warned the Hamas leaders to stop their "provocations against [Egypt]," warning that if they did not, Egypt's response would "embarrass them greatly."[8] In another interview, Zaki said: "Mahmoud Al-Zahhar does not understand Egypt's foreign policy... [then-]Egyptian foreign minister Abu Al-Gheit... does not require a stamp of approval from anyone... Hamas' attempt to drive a wedge [between Egyptian leaders] is naïve, and it has already failed in the past."[9] Hamas also hinted at Israeli-Egyptian collaboration against it. A writer on a Hamas-affiliated website, Muhammad Al-Masrouji, expressed concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Cairo "would supply [Israel] with a cover for its next war, on the assumption that Israel and Egypt are collaborating... [This visit may herald further Israeli aggression], just as [then-]Israeli foreign minister Tsipi Livni's meeting with [then-Egyptian president Hosni] Mubarak in Sharm Al-Sheikh [heralded] the attack on Gaza [in December 2008]."[10] To read the full report, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5518.htm *C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI [1] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), October 19, 2009. [2] Paltoday.com, March 1, 2010. [3] Al-Akhbar (Egypt), June 26, 2010. [4] Paltoday.com, March 1, 2010. [5] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), June 3, 2010. [6] This is a reference to Al-Gheit's June 2010 statement that Egypt would make no amendments to the reconciliation document. Moheet.com, June 26, 2010. [7] Al-Masri Al-Yawm (Egypt), June 25, 2010. [8] Al-Ahram (Egypt), June 26, 2010. [9] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), June 26, 2010. [10] Palestine-info.info, May 9, 2010.
Special Dispatch|4012|July 20, 2011
Hamas/Palestinians
Hamas's Gaza - Four Years Later; Chapter 7: Hamas's Relations with Egypt
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Introduction
Tensions Following Hamas's Refusal to Sign the Egyptian-Brokered Agreement of Reconciliation with Fatah
Friday, 29 July 2011
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