Dr Hassan Salama, a professor of political science at Cairo University, lauded Egypt’s tireless efforts in support of the Palestinian issue and unwavering position to preserve the legitimate Palestinian rights and to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution and the establishment of the Palestinian State on the lines of 4 June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Salama deemed Egypt’s stance regarding the current Palestinian-Israeli tension as “clear” and asserts two facts: that the Palestinian cause is related to the Egyptian national security and that the use of force on the part of Israel will only escalate violence between the two sides and lead to further bloodshed.
Egypt warned that it will not allow any mass exodus of Palestinians into Sinai and saw any move to push Palestinians to migrate south as a serious threat to its security.
“Egypt has the right to protect its sovereignty and suspend any action violating it,” Salama told The Egyptian Gazette in an interview.
Egypt also warned that calls for displacement are capable of emptying Gaza Strip of its inhabitants and undermining the Palestinian cause itself.
Israel announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip two days after fighters from the Hamas resistance Palestinian group infiltrated Israel from Gaza by land, sea and air. The surprise attack led to the killing at least 800 Israelis and capturing of at least 100 captives.
Salama asserted that Israel’s halt of its aggression and provocative actions against Palestinians is the only way to settle the Israel-Palestinian conflict and achieve peace and security in the region. “The statement of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on the current Israeli-Palestinian tension assured this fact,” Salama said.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for decades, following the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the Western-backed creation of Israel in 1948.
Egypt has always been a key mediator in the conflict.
