On the eve of the talks scheduled to take place in Doha on May 15, 2024, which were initiated by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar as another opportunity to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the Israeli hostages…
Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas' political bureau, attacked Egypt, saying that it bears special responsibility towards Gaza because it is the country that lost Gaza to Israel in the first place. His remarked elicited a harsh response from Egyptian officials and journalists, who lashed out at both him and Hamas. They slammed Hamas for failing to consider the devastating implications of its October 7 attack and for wasting previous opportunities to reach a deal with Israel. They also rebuked Marzouk for ignoring Iran's responsibility for the assassination of Hamas political bureau head Isma'il Haniya, which took place on its soil, and instead accusing Egypt of acting to Gaza's detriment. One of the writers said that Hamas has "hijacked" the Palestinian people in the service of foreign interests.
This report reviews Abu Marzouq's statements against Egypt and the criticism in this country against him and his movement.
Abu Marzouk: Egypt Bears Special Responsibility Towards Gaza Because It The One That Lost It To Israel
In an August 10 phone interview with the Qatari channel Al-Arabi, Abu Marzouk said that Egypt bears "special responsibility" towards Gaza, and that it must enforce a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to reach the Strip – because it is the one that "lost Gaza." This happened, he said, when Egypt signed the Camp David Accords and thus turned the Philadelphi Corridor into a border between Egypt and the Palestinians, a border which it now allows Israel to control. He added that Egypt can arrange a ceasefire within a day and can provide the Gazans with food and medicines, for people are dying from diseases and starvation and Egypt must "fulfill its duties in this respect as well."
To view a MEMRI TV clip of his statements, click below:
Egyptian MP: Abu Marzouk Attacked Egypt After It Started Talking With PA About Managing The Rafah Crossing
Egyptian MP and media figure Mustafa Bakry said that Abu Marzouk, who once praised Egypt for its role in handling the Gaza crisis, changed his tune after Egypt started talking with the Palestinian Authority (PA) about managing the Rafah border crossing. Hamas, he added, must reconcile with Fatah, because the starving people of Gaza, desperate for food and medicines, do not care who controls the border crossing.
He wrote on X: "I don't know why Mr. Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, is opening a new front and precipitating a crisis with Egypt… [Abu Marzouk,] do you not think that your [recent] remarks contradict your statements to MBC [in which you thanked Egyptian President Al-Sisi]? [1]You know that Egypt will not give up on the Palestinian cause. President Al-Sisi has stressed this more than once… You reversed your position after Egypt started to coordinate with the legitimate Palestinian Authority, represented by [PA President] Mahmoud Abbas, on [managing] the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing so that aid can be brought into [Gaza]. That's when you became furious, realizing that Hamas would be deprived of its control over the aid coming in. You ignored the fact that our people in Gaza are writhing with hunger and want food and medicines, no matter which Palestinian element [handles this]…
"In the past you yourself expressed willingness to recognize the Zionist entity… I demand that you take a responsible position in line with your past remarks, instead of slandering Egypt's positions and its historic responsibility towards the Palestinian cause."[2]
Editor Of Egyptian Daily: Abu Marzouk Spews Cheap Slogans To Cover Up The Failure Of The Resistance
In response to Abu Marzouk's accusations, Ahmad Al-Taheri, editor of the Egyptian weekly Roz Al-Youssef, told the Al-Kahira Al-Akhbariya channel on August 10 that the resistance, even if it is justified and legitimate, must look after its people, but Hamas had failed to consider the devastating implications of its October 7 attack, and when an opportunity for a ceasefire arose, it "provided the occupation [i.e., Israel] with an excuse" to keep fighting. Al-Taheri added that, even though the leaders of Hamas and Hizbullah were killed on the soil of Hamas' allies – Iran and Lebanon – Abu Marzouk chose to direct his accusations at Egypt: "Haniya was assassinated in Tehran, yet Abu Marzouk talks about Egypt… Fuad Shukr was assassinated in Beirut, yet they come out against Egypt. [Hamas operative] Samer Al-Haj was assassinated in Sidon, yet they talk about Egypt. This is a transparent Hamas method: diverting attention away from the tragedy that it is experiencing [along with the Palestinian people]… by spewing cheap slogans."[3]
Egyptian Journalist: October 7 Was The Greatest Act Of Suicide In Palestinian History
Writing in the Veto weekly, Egyptian journalist Muhammad Salah addressed Abu Marzouk, saying: "Your despicable statements have one advantage: [by uttering them] you have ridden us of the embarrassment we have been feeling since the uncalculated escapade of October 7 and allowed us to speak freely… because you are the one who breached the accepted rules of etiquette and chose to spew excuses for [Hamas'] failure and blame it on others, far from you and from those who exploit you.
"It turns out that humiliating failure is the final and certain outcome of your escapade, which was surely carried out for the sake of those who fund you and exploit you [i.e., Iran] and for the sake of those who will continue to deliver you, one by one, into the hands of the intelligence [apparatuses] of the oppressive entity state [Israel] so it can end your lives in a disgraceful and bitter way.
"Oh brother Abu Marzouk, you chose to spew excuses for the failure without giving a moment's thought to what [actually] happened. [The ones to blame are] you and those who are with you, those who fund [you] and exploit you for the sake of goals and interests that have nothing to do with the Palestinian cause and with the wretched [Palestinian] people, who were hijacked by you and your internal leadership. You did not consider the catastrophe you were bringing [upon the Palestinians] with your [October 7] escapade. [This operation] was ostensibly an act of resistance against the oppressive occupation state, [an act] that no intelligent man can criticize or oppose, because resistance and jihad against the enemy are legitimate and even necessary. But even if this was an act of resistance and of invading the oppressive entity state, it was and still is the greatest act of suicide in the history of the Palestinian cause.
"Anyone who is pleased that this operation caused 3,000 people, at most, from the entity state and from its oppressive army to be killed, wounded or captured, is ignoring 250,000 Gazans who were martyred, wounded or captured, most of them women and children. Who [can be] pleased by this? In addition, the Gaza Strip has been completely destroyed – destruction which, according to UN estimates, takes it back to 1980. Now tens of millions of dollars are needed just to clear away the rubble…
"Mr. Abu Marzouk, which of your statements are we supposed to believe? The [recent] offensive one, or the one you made back in May on the MBC channel, in which you said you appreciated the great effort invested by [Egypt's] President Al-Sisi to promote a ceasefire in Gaza,… and that you would devote your victory to Al-Sisi and to the Arab leaders?...
"Egypt is a great country that is not moved or affected by every derogatory statement by you and your ilk. We are not waiting for gratitude, because we know very well which camp you and those who are with you belong to, and we know what reward you, the jihad fighters of the [fancy] hotels and resorts, are receiving!..."[4]
Egyptian Columnist: Hamas Must Declare An Immediate Ceasefire And Protect The Gazan Civilians
The criticism of Abu Marzouk's statement is part of general criticism that has been recently heard regarding Hamas' policy. For example, Amru Al-Shubaki, a columnist for the Al-Masri Al-Yawm daily, penned two columns calling to stop the war and help the people of Gaza. He argued that the October 7 attack was not an Arab or international consensus, and that Hamas is no longer managing the Gaza Stirp and will not be able to do so in the near future.
In his August 11 column, he wrote: "[Hamas] must end all presence of militants among civilians, because it no longer has any ability to deliver significant blows to the Israeli army, unlike in the first six months [of the war]. The ones who are now being killed and are paying an unbearable price are the Palestinian civilians, while the occupation state sustains almost no damage at all. The role of the October 7 attack is over. Hamas stood fast for several months, and now it is time for it to fulfill its duty of protecting its citizens – even if Israel has not honored [this obligation] and even if [a unilateral ceasefire] will not cause it to immediately hold its fire… This is what is needed [now], as long as the role of the armed resistance in Gaza is almost over. It is time to lay down arms and define the protection of civilians as the goal of this phase…"[5]
In a column several days earlier, Al-Shubaki wrote: "The October 7 operation did not enjoy an Arab or international consensus, and some saw it as the cause of the devastation, killing and displacement in the Gaza Strip… Hamas is no longer running the Gaza Strip and will not be able to do so in the foreseeable future, [for] none of the millions around the world who support the Palestinian cause support Hamas' model of government and administration in Gaza, which has not proved to be very successful…"[6]
