“Why Do Israel’s Bidding?”: Egyptian Human Rights Advocate Blasts Egypt's Policy at Rafah Crossing
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Published 2024-05-24
Israel’s seizure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has sparked anger from the Egyptian government, which has warned that Israel is endangering the landmark 1978 Camp David Accords that normalized relations between the two countries. Despite the increasingly critical tone about Israel’s war on Gaza, however, Egyptian authorities have closely coordinated with Israel in decisions around allowing humanitarian aid in through the Rafah crossing and allowing Palestinians out of Gaza. Egyptian security forces have also locked up over 120 people in Egypt, placing them in pretrial detention on terrorism charges for expressing solidarity with Palestine. “There is a fear within the system that allowing people to voice support and solidarity with Palestinians’ opposition to Israel will extend not just to criticism of the Egyptians’ official position vis-à-vis the war … but also extend to the domestic situation, the human rights situation, the unprecedented economic crisis the country is going through,” says Egyptian journalist and human rights advocate Hossam Bahgat. He is executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and was banned from traveling outside of Egypt for the past eight years, with his assets frozen, as part of an Egyptian government crackdown on human rights NGOs. In March, Egyptian authorities finally closed the case against EIPR and other human rights groups and lifted the travel ban, allowing Bahgat to join us now in our New York studio.
Transcript: www.democracynow.org/2024/5/24/gaza_egypt
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All Comments (21)
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Unfortunately, Egypt is an autocratic state and the president is mostly self-serving
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Shame on the Arab leaders 😞
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Why we never hear from the Saudis. Are they too busy boozing these days?
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truth is stronger than lies
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The ICC needs to issue an arrest warrant for Al Sisi for mass killings and unpresented human rights violation.
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Egypt should wake up to the fact that there neighbor will find a excuses to expand into there territory.
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we the people want our lives back
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Not very surprising. What do you expect from a brutal military dictatorship?
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EGYPT IS EITHER BEING BLACKMAILED OR BRIBED EITHER WAY SHAME ON THEIR LEADERSHIP🥵TRAITORS TO HUMANITY!
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How brave to demonstrate in such a totalitarian country
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Egypt gave up its soul when I signed the agreement and became subservient rather than using the peace treaty to make a positive impact on the situation
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What I don't get is, Egypt joined the South Africa case at the ICJ, but allows the IOF to control the Rafah crossing stopping thousands of AID trucks 🚚🚚🚚
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“Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99% vote.” ― Marvin Simkin
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I hope you are safe and from an Egyptian friend here, I’m so proud of what you did and what you are trying to do❤❤❤❤❤
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I had no idea that Egyptian people were protesting in favour of Palestinians, or that they were being arrested for it. It's another layer to the current War story. I am not hearing these stories in the 'mainstream' media. I really appreciate your coverage.
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As long as the Egyptian army gets their cash transfers from the American taxpeyers they'll do anyhing Netanyahu asks.
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Thank you Mr. Bahgat for standing up for humanity not only in your own country. I hope you can see in your liefetime a more just and democratic Egypt. The world needs people like you, it actually needs more people like you.
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Thanks for reporting
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Shame on Egyptian government.
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This is another situation when the government keeps things quiet. Never knew Egypt was so afraid of dissent. 😢
