Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 
Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi Threatens Attack on Gaza Strip

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi

Gaza Government considers Egyptian FM's statements serious escalation

[ 25/09/2013 - 10:15 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ghazi Hamad, expressed surprise at the Egyptian Foreign Minister's statements, concerning the military and security options against the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister's statements came in contrast with the Egyptian role in protecting the Palestinian people, he said, considering it a serious escalation that would create tension in the relationship between Gaza and Egypt.

For his part, media advisor to the Prime Minister Taher al-Nunu stated that the threatens of the Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy to consider  military action against Gaza and Hamas as serious and unjustified escalation.

Al-Nunu called on wise men in Egypt to assume their responsibility.

The response "will be harsh if we feel that elements within Hamas or other parties are trying to attack Egyptian national security," Fahmy said in an interview with pan-Arab daily Hayat published Tuesday.

It would include "military and security choices and not options that would cause Palestinian citizens to suffer," said Fahmy.

Meanwhile, Political analyst Ibrahim al-Madhoun stated that there are indications that confirm the Egyptian regime's bad intentions towards the Palestinian cause and the Gaza Strip in particular.

He pointed out that the Egyptian incitement has moved from media informal incitement to formal incitement which proves that the Egyptian media campaign against Hamas was a directed, political incitement campaign.

The tunnels' demolition, the closure of Rafah crossing, and canceling the free trade zone came in context of tightening the siege on Gaza and not required Egyptian security measures.

He confirmed that Hamas movement has not and will never intervene in the Egyptian internal affairs, stressing that all the Egyptian formal and informal charges were fabricated as part of the ongoing incitement against the movement.

He believed that any attempt to differentiate between the Palestinian people and Hamas movement will fail, stressing that Hamas is an integral part of the Palestinian people that came after national election.

 

Egypt warns of 'harsh' response against Hamas

AFP Al-Masry Al-Youm

Egypt Independent, September 25, 2013

Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy has warned Hamas of a "harsh response" if the Islamist movement that rules the neighboring Gaza Strip threatened Egypt's national security.

The response "will be harsh if we feel that elements within Hamas or other parties are trying to attack Egyptian national security," Fahmy said in an interview with pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published Tuesday.

It would include "military and security choices and not options that would cause Palestinian citizens to suffer," said Fahmy, who is in New York attending the UN General Assembly meeting.

Ties between Cairo and Hamas have deteriorated since the army ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in July. Morsy belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood which is affiliated with Hamas.

The Palestinian movement fears that Egypt's destruction of tunnels used to smuggle goods into Gaza is part of a plan to tighten a blockade of the enclave.

The Egyptian army has said the destruction of the tunnels is part of a crackdown against Islamist militants in the Sinai peninsula who have links to extremists in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Fahmy said relations between Cairo and Washington were "troubled" and that he had told his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, that threats of suspending U.S. aid to Egypt will have no "influence" on the new army-installed authorities.

Washington is officially reviewing $1.55 billion in annual military and economic aid to Egypt as a result of Morsi's ouster.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama warned that continued US support for Egypt depends on its progress back to democracy.

Obama insisted at the annual General Assembly that the United States had "purposely avoided choosing sides" after Morsi was overthrown, but warned that "our support will depend upon Egypt's progress in pursuing a democratic path."

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egypt-warns-harsh-response-against-hamas