Ibrahim Negm
Senior advisor to the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
Social media outlets circulate a grave accusation that Egypt is responsible for starving Palestinians in Gaza. This claim grossly distorts reality and unfairly shifts blame away from the true architects of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. The Egyptian state every now and then categorically rejects such insinuations, reaffirming its historical, diplomatic, and humanitarian commitment to the Palestinian people.
Egypt has consistently acted as Gaza’s humanitarian gateway, particularly through the Rafah crossing. During conflicts, Cairo swiftly mobilizes resources, sending essential supplies like food, medicine, and fuel. Following Israel’s severe siege imposed on Gaza in October 2023, Egypt facilitated immediate aid shipments. By early November alone, over 750 aid trucks had crossed into Gaza through Rafah, a testament to Egypt’s unwavering humanitarian stance.
Claims of deliberate starvation ignore Egypt’s extensive humanitarian efforts. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pledged $500 million for Gaza’s reconstruction following the 2021 conflict. Egyptian aid has included medical evacuations, with hospitals across North Sinai and Cairo providing crucial care to injured Palestinians. Egypt’s humanitarian actions have garnered international recognition, including praise from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Critics who accuse Egypt overlook complex geopolitical and security realities. The Rafah crossing operates under extreme conditions, regularly targeted during military conflicts. Egypt navigates significant security threats, having historically suffered from militant infiltration via Gaza-border tunnels. From 2013 onward, Egypt destroyed over 1,300 smuggling tunnels that militants used to threaten Egyptian security. This context is crucial in understanding Egypt’s careful border management.
Egypt has also stood firm against efforts aimed at forcibly displacing Gazans into Egyptian territory—a scenario explicitly rejected by President al-Sisi as a “red line.” Egypt’s steadfast refusal to accept coerced displacement underscores its commitment to Palestinian rights and its determination to prevent a repeat of historical displacement tragedies.
Moreover, Egypt has tirelessly advocated for Palestinian rights on the international stage. It has mediated ceasefires, engaged in intensive diplomatic negotiations, and consistently called for a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution. Cairo hosted numerous summits and proposed resolutions at the UN Security Council, reflecting Egypt’s proactive diplomatic role.
Who, then, truly weaponizes starvation in Gaza? Multiple international organizations have clearly identified Israel as the party enforcing the blockade, intentionally depriving Gazans of essential supplies. Israeli authorities have openly declared measures cutting off electricity, water, fuel, and basic foodstuffs, directly violating international law and resulting in widespread malnutrition and deaths in Gaza. Human Rights Watch and other rights organizations explicitly accuse Israel, not Egypt, of using starvation as a weapon of war.
Indeed, the dire humanitarian situation is exacerbated not by Egypt’s policies, but by Israel’s stringent blockade and targeted attacks. Despite Israel’s repeated strikes near Rafah and restrictive inspection regimes delaying aid convoys, Egypt persisted, repairing infrastructure damage and continuing to push essential supplies into Gaza at considerable risk.
In sum, Egypt’s actions—diplomatically, politically, and humanitarianly—have consistently demonstrated solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. It is a lifeline of hope and assistance rather than an instigator of hardship. Allegations that Egypt deliberately contributes to starvation distort reality, misrepresent the truth, and undermine genuine humanitarian efforts.
Rather than misplacing blame, the international community and media outlets must focus their scrutiny and advocacy on the real impediments to humanitarian relief: the harsh, indiscriminate blockade imposed by Israel and the ongoing conflict conditions that have tragically deepened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Egypt, meanwhile, remains unwavering in its commitment to alleviate suffering and champion the cause of peace and dignity for Palestinians.
