CAIRO: Independent MP Hamdeen Sabahy censured Hezbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah for attacking “the Egyptian political regime.
“Nasrallah’s statements seek to engage Egypt in a war and that is something that we will never allow, Sabahy said in a press conference organized by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) Saturday.
This is seen as a rare show of support by the MB for the government against another Islamist group.
Sabahy’s statement came just days after Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Nasrallah of “being an agent of Iran.
Aboul Gheit previously said that both Hamas and Hezbollah “have tried to force the region into a confrontation in the interest of Iran, which is trying to use its cards to escape Western pressure … on the nuclear file.
Nasrallah responded to Aboul Gheit’s comments in a press conference Thursday, saying that the Arab world is indeed split, with some wanting to continue the resistance while others – alluding to Egypt – wanting to end the struggle completely.
Egypt came under a barrage of criticism at the onset of the war on Gaza because of its perceived lack of support for Hamas and the people of Gaza.
“There is a limit to criticizing a big nation like Egypt, Sabahy said, adding that Nasrallah should recognize Egypt’s strategic importance to the region.
Nasrallah “should know better how to choose proper language when attacking a great country like Egypt, said Sabahy.
The Brotherhood conference, which was attended by several independent MPs, was originally held to discuss Egypt’s refusal to give access to special delegations heading to Gaza to provide aid. A delegation of MB members and independent MPs were reportedly stopped at the Rafah border Friday.
According to Al Jazeera, Egyptian authorities have also refused to allow five other MPs from entering Gaza.
