Egypt and the Palestinian Cause in an Event at the BA
Posted on
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina organized on Tuesday an event entitled "Egypt and the Palestinian Cause" in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina; Major General Mohamed Ibrahim, former Undersecretary of the General Intelligence Service; Senator Mohamed Shawky, Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science; and a group of intellectuals and senior officials.
Senior researcher Dr. Sameh Fawzy pointed out that the Egyptian role in the Palestinian cause is honest, solid and immutable. He stressed that this role was evident in the current crisis and the emphasis on the rejection of the liquidation of the Palestinian cause and the displacement of Palestinians to Sinai. He also underlined Egypt’s insistence that the settlement of the Palestinian issue can only be attained by addressing its basic roots, which are occupation and settlement, and highlighted the Egyptian leadership’s warning of the consequences of expanding military operations that might turn into a full-scale regional war.
Dr. Ahmed Zayed said that what is currently taking place in Gaza has never happened before in the world, even during World War II, pointing out that Israel is committing genocide against unarmed citizens.
He explained that Egypt's position with regard to the Palestinian issue has been consistent from the outset, pointing out that the Egyptian state has made great sacrifices and that the current stance is a continuation of the historical one.
He also noted that Egypt's stance emphasizes Israel’s unacceptable acts in Gaza, as there must be a ceasefire, allowing in medicine, food and fuel, and starting a dialogue for peace.
In addition, Dr. Zayed stressed that there is a great contradiction in the world between moral practices and political practices, as the world that calls for morality, cooperation and rapprochement is the same one that supports wars.
He also stated that the world is now suffering from a moral calcification, especially during its handling of the recent war on Gaza, pointing to the world’s need to reconsider its moral system.
Major General Mohamed Ibrahim said that in the midst of these current events, no one knows when and how this war will end, even the warring parties do not know when it will end.
He explained that Hamas has carried out an unprecedented and uncalculated qualitative operation in some aspects, and therefore the results and repercussions are unprecedented.
He pointed out that the war in Gaza affects Egypt directly, noting that Egypt has a leadership that possesses wisdom and examines every matter carefully.
He also believed that the current situation is considered a fourth Nakba for the Palestinians and has a direct impact on the Palestinian cause, which is part of Egypt's national security.
Major General Mohamed Ibrahim described what Egypt has presented to the Palestinian cause during the past two decades, especially with regard to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the reconstruction operations from 2007 onwards.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Shawky discussed three aspects related to the current aggression on the Gaza Strip: the legitimacy of resistance, legitimate self-defense and what can be achieved at the international legal level in the present situation.
He said that what Hamas did on October 7 is a legitimate resistance according to international law, and that historical evidence abounds in this regard.
He also noted that Israel and its supporters are among the countries that talk about human rights, saying that what Israel is doing is self-defense, but international law says otherwise.
He called for a recourse to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in Gaza.
It is noteworthy that the BA Memory of Egypt project presented a number of rare short films about Egypt's support for the Palestinian cause throughout history.