Interviewed by Middle East Eye
According to Hossam el-Hamalawy, an Egyptian scholar and expert on political and security affairs, “there is no doubt Israel is engaged in ethnic cleansing of Palestinians”. Numerous statements by top Israeli government and military officials have made clear that the target is “Gaza’s entire population, not just Hamas”, Hamalawy told MEE.
Israel’s stunt at the ICJ was “a cunning move to try to shift the blame on another party”, Hamalawy said. But he maintained that the Egyptian regime is complicit in blocking aid, noting that it has done so for years. Past wars, however, have also proven that Egypt is capable – when it wants to do so – of delivering aid without “waiting for a green light from Israel”.
Hamalawy added: “[Egypt’s excuse] that they cannot guarantee the safety of aid caravans once they enter Gaza is a joke.”