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Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
North Sinai governor defends Egypt's stance on Rafah crossing, rejects claims of neglecting Gaza - Foreign Affairs
North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer on Friday defended Egypt's handling of the Rafah border crossing, pushing back against accusations that Cairo has arbitrarily closed the crossing or failed to support Palestinians in Gaza. In an interview with Sada El-Balad TV, Megawer said Egypt operates 'within the framework of international laws and agreements' and stressed that its decisions are shaped by national and regional security considerations. 'There are international regulations and treaties, as well as regional security considerations in the Middle East that must be taken into account,' Megawer said, responding to recent public demands to 'open the Rafah crossing by force.' 'We are managing a sovereign state with utmost courage and wisdom,' he added. 'I will not jeopardize Egypt's security and thereby cause the collapse of the state, the Middle East and the whole Arab world to satisfy reckless demands.' Megawer dismissed what he called widespread misconceptions about the crossing, arguing that Egypt cannot be expected to force it open unilaterally. 'Should we go to war then? And with whom? The US?' he asked. 'Egypt has already fought four conventional wars and battled terrorism for 11 years, enduring significant economic hardship,' he said. He stressed that no one has the 'right' to question or undermine Egypt's 'commitment or sacrifices.' Megawer also recalled President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's early stance against the forced displacement of Palestinians following the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. 'Even when US President Donald Trump spoke about the relocation of Palestinian population to Egypt or Jordan, Egypt has reaffirmed its stance: we will not displace the Palestinian people,' he said. Israel's control over crossings The governor also sought to clarify the status of various crossings into Gaza, underscoring that many are under Israeli control. 'There are multiple crossings to Gaza with the Israeli side,' Megawer said, citing Beit Hanoun for individual travel to the occupied West Bank and Karm Abu Salem for humanitarian aid—both controlled by Israel. He added that crossings like Sufa, Nahal Oz, and Karni were closed by Israel between 2008 and 2010. 'The Rafah crossing in southern Gaza is for individuals only and has never been shut by Egypt,' he said. However, he noted that the crossing has two components—one controlled by Egypt and the other by Palestinians. The latter, he said, is currently 'shut by Israel.' 'During ceasefires, the Palestinian Authority (PA) used to manage the Palestinian-controlled side,' he added. Humanitarian aid and Egypt's burden Addressing humanitarian efforts, Megawer said Egypt has worked 'tirelessly' with international partners to deliver aid to Gaza in recent days. 'A large number of aid trucks have entered, mostly carrying essential food supplies like flour and baby formula,' he said. Despite contributions from other nations, he emphasized Egypt's outsized role: 'Egypt bears the heaviest burden—security-wise, logistically, and economically,' he said, claiming Egypt's share of aid to be about 80 or 90 percent. Since Wednesday, 444 aid trucks have entered Gaza via the Zikim and Karm Abu Salem crossings. Political mediation amid famine and war Megawer concluded by outlining Egypt's dual approach to the war: mediation and aid delivery. 'Egypt has been actively mediating ceasefire efforts in Gaza, aiming to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas,' he said. These efforts seek a permanent ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and the urgent and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. International organizations have accused Israel of using mass-starvation as a weapon of war against the Strip's 2.3 million population, describing the situation as a 'man-made famine.' Since October 2023, Israeli genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured over 150,000 others, according to Gaza's health ministry. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
25-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt will not shift from food to cash subsidies without public consent: Supply Minister - Society
Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk stated that the government will not shift from the current subsidy system, which allows citizens to buy key food staples (rice, pasta, cooking oil, etc.) via subsidy ration cards at lower-than-market prices, to cash subsidies without public consent. In remarks to Sada El-Balad TV on Monday night, Farouk noted that subsidies cost the state EGP 234 billion—EGP 100 billion more than the amount allocated for them in the annual public budget. He mentioned presenting Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with proposals about the subsidy system shift. However, no agreement has been reached regarding the cash support amount, with the cabinet waiting for the National Dialogue results on the subsidies' probable value. The current subsidy system allows citizens to buy key food staples via subsidy ration cards at lower-than-market prices, including rice, pasta, cooking oil, and bread. In December, Egypt's House of Representatives, in principle, approved a government-drafted bill that directs cash-based subsidies to citizens who fall below the poverty line and lack access to social insurance. According to the draft bill, a Takaful and Karama Fund, affiliated with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, will be established to provide payments to targeted citizens. The fund's resources will come from the state budget, private contributions, and investments. The Takaful and Karama cash support programme, launched in 2015, is a key pillar of Egypt's social protection system. It offers financial assistance to low-income families, elderly people, and individuals with special needs, particularly in Upper Egypt. In February, Egypt increased cash support allocations for Takaful and Karama beneficiaries to EGP 41 billion annually in FY2024/2025, providing over EGP 3 billion to 4.7 million families monthly. The latest figure issued by the state's statistical agency, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), was in September 2000 when it said Egypt's poverty rate reached 29.7 percent in the 2019/2020 fiscal year. World Bank figures issued at the end of 2022 show that 32.5 percent of Egypt's population lives in extreme poverty. According to CAPMAS, the population reached 104.4 million in December 2022. Short link:
