CAIRO: In a nod to current regional politics, a meeting organized by the opposition Tagammu party on Wednesday to address the plight of the remaining Palestinians in Rafah and Al-Arish was disbanded when no Palestinians showed up.
“A lot of the Palestinians are affiliated to Hamas, Tagammu party member Ashraf El Hefny told Daily News Egypt, “and Hamas members are usually the most reticent about joining any popular movements or protests.
Indeed, it seems local Palestinians have adopted a different tack in attempting to lobby for the reopening of the Rafah crossing, the only direct entrance to Gaza which circumvents Israeli territory.
Local coordinator for Palestinian affairs in the area Abdel-Sattar El-Ghalban keenly stressed to Daily News Egypt that the help of Egyptian opposition groups was no longer desirable. “We have no dealings with the opposition, we have told them before we do not want them to hold protests on our behalf, he said, distancing himself from opposition efforts.
Instead, El-Ghalban wanted to focus Palestinian efforts on presenting their situation through the Egyptian media, in the hopes of influencing the government to intercede on their behalf.
Over 400 Palestinians remain in Egypt, unable to return to Gaza through Al-Oja crossing due to fears of incarceration by Israeli security forces. Their allegiances are not only to Hamas, but other Palestinian organizations such as Fatah and the National Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
El Hefny likened the Hamas members to the Muslim Brotherhood, whom also don’t participate in joint protests with parties such as Tagammu.
“They are not enthusiastic about any sort of popular movement, or any campaign on the street, he said. “Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood are practically the same and this is how they operate. They are following orders.
And in a similar vein, El-Ghalban pointed out that the Egyptian government was taking a rather considerate stance towards the remaining Palestinians, possibly as a result of their avoidance of opposition groups in Egypt or possibly because of bigger regional considerations.
“The Egyptian government isn’t tailing them [the Palestinians], nor forcing them to leave through Al-Oja even though the permits allowing them to stay in Egypt have expired, El-Ghalban said.
The Rafah crossing has remained closed since Hamas defeated Fatah troops two months ago and seized control of the Strip. The political consensus is that it will not be reopened unless Hamas rescinds control of Gaza.
