CAIRO: The escalation of the situation in Gaza, culminating in the break-out of Gazans into Egyptian territory, has provoked some Egyptian politicians and Members of Parliament to voice their opinions in the past few days.
Daily News Egypt went down to the streets to ask average Egyptians how they feel about the violence taking place in Gaza and if they are for or against those momentous events.
A taxi driver who refused to mention his name was unaware of the recent developments in Gaza, yet was not surprised when Daily News Egypt described the situation to him. “So what is the big deal? .The situation has always been like that in Palestine, he said.
However, the cab driver did not agree that Egyptians should be the ones to offer support to the Palestinians: “We can hardly eat and we have so many poor people. So why should we be the ones to offer help to the Palestinians? I do not think we can afford it.
On the other hand, Gamal, a 62-year-old guard at a building in Nasr City told Daily News Egypt, “Of course, this is so unfair, what is happening in Gaza. And Egypt should do whatever it can to help the Gazans and all of the Palestinians.
“I hate Israel, said an anonymous 11-year-old son of another guard of a building in Nasr City in reaction to the recent violent attacks in Gaza. He added that, “We should all fight Israel and stop the actions taking place in Gaza as soon as possible.
Ahmed Mohamed, a 68-year-old member of a governmental holding company, said, “The situation is going from bad to worse. Yet I do not see any means by which the Israeli/Palestinian dilemma can be solved, except if the whole of the Arab world unites and works day and night to find alternatives that would put an end to the situation there.
However, Mohamed did not agree that Egypt should be the only country to assist the Gazans. “All of the Arab countries, especially the many that are filthy rich and do not know where to spend their money, should also provide help to the Gazans.
“I attended a conference in the UAE some years ago, the people there were spraying designer perfumes in the streets when the country’s prince was passing through. So I think they can afford to help Gazans financially if they want to.
“I wish that the Palestinians had listened to the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat when he invited them to attend the peace talks he had with Israel after the 1973 war, said a 55-year-old housewife.
“None of this would have happened, and there would have been a stable Palestinian state established for years now.
She added that Egypt should do its best to help Gazans and the Palestinians in general.
“Egypt is and will always be the region’s mother country, and should provide all the Arab countries with security and necessary supplies whenever it is needed, she said.
