Latest news with #SamirFarag
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Why Is Israel Repeating Claims of Weapons Smuggling from Egypt?
Israel said its military had downed a drone carrying weapons that it claimed entered from Egyptian territory, in an incident that experts say reflects ongoing tensions between the two neighbors and may be aimed at pressuring Cairo over its opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said it had detected a drone attempting to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel around the Paran Brigade, near the border. The drone was intercepted by Israeli forces. Upon arrival at the scene, security personnel located the drone, four weapons and ammunition, the army said, adding that the seized items were handed over to Israeli police. The French news agency AFP also cited the statement, noting no casualties were reported. The incident is the latest in a series of claims by Israel alleging that drones or weapons have entered its territory from Egypt. In February, Israel said it had shot down a drone crossing from Egypt, and in October, it reported intercepting another drone it said was smuggling arms. Egypt has not issued an official response to the latest incident, but a senior Egyptian military analyst dismissed the Israeli claims. Retired General Samir Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egyptian territory is 'secure and tightly controlled,' rejecting any suggestion that it is being used to smuggle arms into Israel. He said the repeated Israeli claims were a 'pretext to justify the continued mobilization of the Israeli army and the war on Gaza' amid growing domestic unrest in Israel. Cairo has been a central mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and has staunchly opposed any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from the besieged enclave. Israel has recently seen mounting anti-war protests from current and former soldiers, as well as civilians. The demonstrations were sparked by an April 9 letter signed by a group of Israeli air force pilots demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza—even if it meant halting the war. The letter has since been backed by more soldiers, artists, intellectuals and public figures, further fueling pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to reconsider its war strategy. Former Egyptian diplomats and analysts have also dismissed Israeli claims that a drone carrying weapons entered its territory from Egypt, describing the move as part of a broader strategy by Tel Aviv to apply psychological and political pressure amid strained bilateral ties. Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, a former assistant to Egypt's foreign minister, said Israel's allegations are consistent with its use of 'hybrid warfare,' which includes military, psychological, and media tactics designed to manipulate other parties. 'These accusations are baseless,' Hassan told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that their repetition reflects growing internal pressure in Israel—both economic and military—as well as tension in relations with Cairo. Hassan said Tel Aviv is frustrated with Egypt's firm rejection of any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and its active diplomatic efforts to rally international support for reconstruction without resettlement. 'Israel is trying to deflect attention by repeatedly targeting Egypt's role,' he said, pointing to recent Israeli media reports questioning Egypt's military buildup in Sinai. Israeli outlets have published reports in recent days alleging an unprecedented Egyptian military presence near the border, which some in Israel have claimed violates the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries. Dr. Said Okasha, an expert on Israeli affairs at Egypt's Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, echoed these concerns, saying the drone claim is a reflection of current tensions with Cairo. 'It's puzzling that Israel would make such statements publicly when there are well-established channels for handling border security issues through joint coordination committees,' Okasha said. He added that the move appears aimed at undermining Egypt's credibility as a mediator in the Gaza ceasefire talks while also serving as a distraction for Israel's domestic audience amid growing protests over the government's inability to end the conflict.
Asharq Al-Awsat
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Egypt Rejects Israeli Claims of Relocating Gazans to Sinai
Egypt on Friday dismissed as "baseless" claims by Israeli media that it plans to relocate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza to its North Sinai province that borders the enclave, stressing its commitment to a reconstruction plan for the war-ravaged territory. Former head of the Egyptian army's Department of Morale Affairs Maj. Gen. Samir Farag described the allegations as an attempt to "deflect from Israel's internal crises and test Cairo's response." "Egypt is determined to implement the Gaza reconstruction plan, and such attempts will not deter it from continuing or securing international support," Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat. Egypt on Friday firmly denied media reports claiming it was prepared to temporarily relocate 500,000 Palestinians from Gaza to a designated city in North Sinai as part of reconstruction efforts, the State Information Service (SIS) said in a statement. The SIS dismissed the allegations as "false and unfounded," emphasizing that they "completely contradict Egypt's firm and principled stance," which it has maintained since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. Cairo "categorically and unequivocally rejects any attempt to forcibly or voluntarily displace Palestinians from Gaza, especially to Egypt, as it would undermine the Palestinian cause and pose a serious threat to national security," the statement added. Egypt's firm stance against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza underpins the reconstruction plan it proposed at the recent Cairo Arab Emergency Summit, which was unanimously approved, the SIS affirmed. The plan aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip without forcing a single Palestinian to leave, the statement stressed. On Friday, Israel's i24 News cited a report from Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper alleging discussions about Egypt receiving 500,000 Gazans in North Sinai. However, the newspaper attributed the claim to Israeli media without citing official sources. Farag reiterated that Egypt has opposed the displacement of Palestinians "since the first day of the Gaza war" and remains committed to its reconstruction plan. "These claims are merely a test of Egypt's resolve, a psychological warfare tactic, and an attempt to shift the crisis onto Egypt," he said, adding that they come as Israel faces internal turmoil and as Cairo continues efforts to push for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Egypt: Security Forces Free Egyptians ‘Kidnapped' by RSF in Sudan
Egyptian media reported on Thursday that security forces, in coordination with Sudanese authorities, successfully freed a group of Egyptians who had been 'kidnapped' by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. According to an informed Egyptian source who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, the freed Egyptians, who have since returned to Egypt following an operation conducted under the 'directives of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi,' were traders working in Khartoum. They had been detained by the RSF in areas under its control since last year. The source clarified that their release was secured through 'security arrangements with Sudanese authorities, without any direct Egyptian security intervention on the ground.' As reported by Egypt's Middle East News Agency, the Egyptian-Sudanese coordination led to the successful 'transfer of the freed Egyptians from conflict zones in central Khartoum to Port Sudan,' before their return to Egypt. The source also revealed that the Egyptians had initially 'refused voluntary repatriation when the internal conflict erupted in Sudan in mid-April 2023, fearing the loss of their businesses.' According to Egyptian local media, the number of freed individuals was seven, all from Fayoum (south of Cairo), who had been living in Sudan and engaged in the trade of household goods. The source explained that 'RSF control over Khartoum led to the seizure of properties belonging to Sudanese citizens and foreign nationals, including Egyptians.' He noted that 'the kidnapped group was among a small number of Egyptians who chose to remain in Sudan despite the outbreak of war, refusing to join the voluntary repatriation initiative.' Since the war began in Sudan, the Egyptian government has facilitated the return of approximately 10,000 citizens through air, land, and sea bridges, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Egyptian military expert Major General Samir Farag confirmed that the release of the detainees was achieved through 'understandings and communications between Egypt's security and sovereign agencies and their Sudanese counterparts, rather than through a direct Egyptian security operation inside Sudanese territory.'
