Hamas denies Rafah violence claims

Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk has denied claims that the movement was involved in the deaths of 16 Egyptian soldiers, following attacks on Egyptian military positions in Rafah. Discussing relations between Egypt and Gaza, Abu Marzouk praised Egypt’s role in achieving Palestinian reconciliation, following a landmark agreement signed in Cairo recently. “The Zionist project targets Palestine as well as Egypt,” the Hamas chief said. It was vital for the two countries to cooperate in opening up border crossings to allow the transfer of food and weapons, he added, which were both necessary for Palestinians to defend themselves. Former Egyptian presidential adviser Mohamed Essmat Seif el-Dawla meanwhile claimed that a large number of people had not dealt with the Palestinian issue as a top priority. “Egypt is committed to the Camp David treaty,” he claimed, “but former regimes have worked to tarnish the image of Palestinians merely to serve the interests of Israel.” Journalist Abdel-Kader Yassin joined in criticism of past regimes in Egypt, slamming former leaders Mubarak and Sadat in “abandoning” Palestine. “Egyptians have to realise that the Palestinian issue is an Egyptian one,” he added.