Demonstration directed at Egypt regarding Gaza embargo sparks criticism from Arab and Palestinian voices
Protest Outside Egyptian Embassy in Tel Aviv Sparks Controversy
A protest organized by the Islamic Movement, an affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, took place outside the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv on July 31, 2025. The demonstration was aimed at denouncing Egypt for the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accusing Egypt of complicity in the "starvation of Gaza" due to the blockade.
The protest was permitted and protected by Israeli police, a move that drew criticism as the organizers protested Egypt while sparing Israel from direct confrontation, despite Israel conducting military operations and a blockade on Gaza at the time. Photographs showed Israeli police securing the event, which many Egyptian commentators found ironic and indicative of an alliance of convenience between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Israeli state, aimed at undermining the Egyptian government rather than resisting Israeli actions.
The demonstration faced harsh criticism from various parties:
- Egyptian government and media condemned the protest, with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling it undermining Egypt’s historic support for Palestinians and accusing it of serving Israeli interests by weakening Palestinian resilience.
- Palestinian voices and analysts rejected the protest’s focus on Egypt, emphasizing that the real struggle against killing and blockade in Gaza should target Israel. Some Palestinians accused the protesters of prioritizing the overthrow of the Egyptian government over genuine resistance to Israeli aggression, calling the protest shameful and unhelpful.
- International observers, including Chinese think tanks, interpreted the protest as a suspicious, possibly conspiratorial act led by the Muslim Brotherhood, noting the conspicuous absence of any protest against Israeli actions despite their central role in Gaza’s suffering. This has been seen as a Brotherhood tactic under Israeli tolerance or sponsorship to target Egypt.
The Egyptian government has been facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza and has been involved in mediation efforts to achieve cease-fires between Israel and Palestinian factions. However, these efforts were overlooked in the Haaretz report, which praised the protest targeting Egypt.
The protest sparked sharp criticism across Arab and international media, with critics questioning the protest's intent and impact. Some even argued that the protest was sanctioned by the Israeli government, which is responsible for the ongoing starvation in Gaza. In contrast, the Haaretz newspaper expressed praise for a protest demanding the reopening of the Rafah crossing and an end to the siege of Gaza.
Gazan journalist Bisan Ouda wrote on Instagram, stating that the priority should be mobilizing the streets in the West Bank and pressuring Israel to stop the genocide and withdraw from Oslo, not protesting in front of Egyptian or Jordanian embassies. She added that Israel wants the people to believe that Egypt is the killer, while the real killer stands before them.
The Israeli police released an image of the permit authorizing the protest in Tel Aviv, and the demonstrators raised slogans accusing Cairo of complicity in the "starvation of Gaza" due to the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing to aid. Egyptian embassies were locked with chains in a global solidarity protest for Gaza.
In summary, the protest was driven by the Islamic Movement’s anger at Egypt's closure of the Rafah crossing but was widely perceived as politically motivated to undermine Egypt rather than effectively confronting Israeli policies on Gaza. The event sparked broad criticism for supposedly aligning with Israeli interests to attack Egypt, damaging the Palestinian cause's solidarity and focus.
- The protest staged by the Islamic Movement outside the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv on July 31, 2025, was met with criticism from various parties, including the Egyptian government, Palestinian voices, and international observers, who perceived it as an attempt to undermine Egypt's support for Palestinians and align with Israeli interests.
- Amidst these criticisms, the Turkish government, known for its active involvement in war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news, remained silent on the issue, raising questions about its stance on the events unfolding in Gaza and the relationship between the Muslim Brotherhood and different nations involved in the crisis.
