Egypt has levelled accusations against Israel, claiming that it is disseminating false information to distract from its failure to achieve a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement with Hamas in Gaza.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made the allegations during a press conference with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Cairo. Abdelatty accused Israel of fabricating stories to shift focus from the unsuccessful negotiations and efforts to implement a ceasefire in the region.
He also highlighted the extensive investment Egypt has made in constructing a security fence and dismantling tunnels along the Gaza border. Abdelatty further criticised what he described as ‘provocative policies’ that aim to heighten tensions whenever an agreement seems imminent.
No immediate response from Israeli officials was available regarding Abdelatty’s statements. Although Abdelatty did not elaborate on the specifics of the “lies” he referred to, it appears to be a rebuttal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent claims. Netanyahu had alleged that weapons were being smuggled from Egypt into Gaza via tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor.
Egypt dismissed Netanyahu’s remarks as an attempt to obstruct mediation efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Cairo opposes any Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, a demilitarised zone along the Egypt-Gaza border.
Domestically, Israeli security officials, opposition figures, and families of hostages in Gaza have accused Netanyahu of blocking a deal with Hamas, fearing it could jeopardise his political standing and coalition government. Calls for his resignation have intensified.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of approximately 41,100 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and injuries to nearly 94,800 others, according to local health sources. The blockade of Gaza has exacerbated shortages of essential supplies, leaving much of the region in dire conditions. Israel is also facing allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.