Alerts

Egyptian President al-Sisi vs. Hamas

Share this
Egyptian President al-Sisi vs Hamas

Table of Contents

Institute for Contemporary Affairs
Founded jointly with the Wechsler Family Foundation

Vol. 14, No. 40       December 4, 2014

  • At the end of last month, Egypt’s Prosecutor General filed a lawsuit against Hamas’ military arm Ezzedin Al Qassam, intending to declare Hamas a terrorist organization and outlaw its activity. Hamas claims that the directive to the Prosecutor General originated from Egyptian President al-Sisi himself.
  • The Egyptian move against Hamas comes after the grave terror attack in northern Sinai six weeks ago in which 33 Egyptian soldiers were killed. The extremist Ansar Beit al Maqdes, that recently joined ISIS, claimed responsibility, but according to Egyptian intelligence, Hamas was actively involved in this terror attack by smuggling explosives and its fighters through Gaza’s tunnels.
  • The Egyptians claim the terror attack was masterminded by Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, that the logistical support was provided by the Turkish intelligence services, and that Qatar financed the operation with $6 million. Hamas has denied all connection to the attack.

At the end of last month, Egypt’s Prosecutor General filed a lawsuit against Hamas’ military arm Ezzedin Al Qassam for a quick trial. The proceedings were intended to declare Hamas a terrorist organization and outlaw its activity altogether.

The Hamas movement claims that the directive to the Prosecutor General originated high up, from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi himself.1  Fawzi Barhum, one of Hamas’ spokespersons in the Gaza Strip, accused Egypt of a deliberate attack on Hamas and stated,  “Filing a lawsuit against the Ezzedin Al Qassam brigades, as well as the slanderous campaign in Egypt’s media, are clearly an extension of a series of actions directed against the Palestinian resistance, and in particular against Hamas’ military arm.”2

Hamas’ Involvement in Terrorist Attacks in Egypt

The background to the Egyptian move against Hamas’ military arm is the grave terror attack carried out in the north of the Sinai Peninsula about six weeks ago, in which 33 Egyptian soldiers were killed.  The extremist Ansar Beit al Maqdes organization, that recently joined ISIS, claimed responsibility, but according to Egyptian intelligence, Hamas was actively involved in this terror attack by smuggling explosives and its fighters via Gaza’s tunnels.3

The Egyptians claim the terror attack was masterminded by Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, that the logistics were provided by the Turkish intelligence services and that Qatar financed the operation to the tune of six million dollars.4  Hamas, for its part, denied all connection to the attack and on October 25, 2014, issued a statement “that it had nothing to do with the situation in Sinai” and moreover “the Gaza-Egypt border was secure and supervised by our security measures.”5

It is not the first time that Hamas is accused by Egypt of involvement in terror attacks against the Egyptian army:

1. On August 5, 2012, while Mohammed Mursi, a Muslim Brotherhood member, was president of Egypt, 16 Egyptian soldiers were killed in Rafah by terrorist fire from extremist Jihadi organizations, which attacked their post in the course of their end of Ramadan meal.

Two days after the attack, a statement issued by the military council of the Egyptian armed forces pointed to direct Hamas involvement in the attack, aided and abetted by extremists from within the Gaza strip.6

Egypt further demanded that Hamas surrender three members of the Ezzedin Al Qassam Brigades in Gaza, who had smuggled weapons and provided logistic aid to extremist factions in Sinai. Hamas capitulated, on condition that the three suspects undergo interrogation in Gaza rather than Egypt, to prevent their torture.7

2. On December 24, 2013 a fatal attack was launched in Mansura, at the Nile Delta, killing 16 people and wounding more than 130 people. The Ansar Beit al Maqdes organization, previously associated with Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility. Egyptian Minister of the Interior Mahmad Ibrahim accused Hamas of providing the terrorists with logistical assistance.  In a press conference convened in Cairo, Ibrahim claimed that Amar Masoud, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, admitted to having committed several crimes in Mansura and to his ties with Hamas, including the military training he underwent in Gaza.  For its part, Hamas denied any connection to the attacks in Egypt and declared the Minister of the Interior’s accusations as “false and groundless.”8

Hamas asserts that the Egyptian campaign against it is part of President al-Sisi’s warfare against the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, recently proclaimed a terrorist organization.9  The official website of Hamas’ military arm asserts that al-Sisi’s goal is to “eradicate armed resistance in the Gaza Strip,” that this policy serves Israel and is part of an Egyptian-Arab strategy to create a lull with the Zionist enemy and form an Arab axis to challenge the Iranian-Syrian-Yemenite one.10

Undoubtedly, al-Sisi’s regime views the Hamas movement as subversive, acting against Egypt’s national security and in line with its mother-movement the Muslim Brotherhood, recently outlawed in Egypt. Following the latest attack against Egyptian soldiers in the northern Sinai Peninsula the Egyptian president has directed a series of steps to be taken in reaction to Hamas’ involvement in the attack:

  • Suspend negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian teams, mediated by Egypt, on implementing the ceasefire agreement following operation “Protective Edge.”
  • Close the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Sinai.
  • Establish a wide buffer zone in Rafah along Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip. One thousand Palestinian homes have already been demolished.
  • Accelerate destruction of the tunnels on the Egyptian side.

The full magnitude of the political friction between Hamas and Egypt was revealed during operation “Protective Edge,” with Hamas refusing to accept the Egyptian cease-fire proposal and coordinating directly with Turkey and Qatar. Only after immense pressure brought to bear by Gaza’s residents was Hamas forced to accept the ceasefire. Suspicions run high in Hamas that the Egyptian measures are coordinated with Israel and that their purpose is to tighten the blockade on Gaza, demolish the trafficking tunnels and bring about the de facto demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

* * *

Notes

1 المقالات  http://www.alqassam.ps/arabic/index.php#!/4963/
2 Fausi Barhum’s Facebook entry from 22.11.14
Asharq Al-Awasat 26.10.14 and Al-Akhbar 26.10.14
Al Youm Alsabea 18.11.14
http://www.mako.co.il/news-world/arab-q4_2014/Article-d97aa857bf74941004.htm
Al Watan 7.8.12
Al Quds 7.8.12
http://english.ahram.org.eg
9 المقالات http://www.alqassam.ps/arabic/index.php#!4957/
10 المقالات  http://www.alqassam.ps/arabic/index.php#!/4963/
11   المقالات http://www.alqassam.ps/arabic/index.php#!/4963/

 

Yoni Ben Menachem

Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
Share this

Subscribe to Daily Alert

The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Related Items

Stay Informed, Always

Get the latest news, insights, and updates directly in your inbox—be the first to know!

Subscribe to Jerusalem Issue Briefs
The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Notifications

The Jerusalem Center
Canada investigating Israeli-Canadian IDF soldiers?
JCFA senior researcher, Amb. Alan Baker slams the probe as a “political PR stunt with no legal basis.” “This isn’t justice—it’s a betrayal. Canada is siding with PLO propaganda over facts.”
11:29am
The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

Close