By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
    Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
    September 27, 2023
    Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
    Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
    September 27, 2023
    UNDP, MBRF launch online learning initiative for Arab countries
    UNDP, MBRF launch online learning initiative for Arab countries
    September 27, 2023
    Egypt Post invests in Roaderz platform to enhance e-commerce, delivery services
    Egypt Post invests in Roaderz platform to enhance e-commerce, delivery services
    September 27, 2023
    GAFI to grant 45 more golden licences to boost investment
    GAFI to grant 45 more golden licences to boost investment
    September 27, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Egypt’s Irrigation Minister highlights climate challenges for water sector
    Egypt’s Irrigation Minister highlights climate challenges for water sector
    September 27, 2023
    CCCPA, Senghor University join forces for African peace, development
    CCCPA, Senghor University join forces for African peace, development
    September 27, 2023
    Arab League chief urges more funding, investment for food security
    Arab League chief urges more funding, investment for food security
    September 27, 2023
    Egypt denounces Houthi attack on Bahraini forces in Saudi Arabia
    Egypt denounces Houthi attack on Bahraini forces in Saudi Arabia
    September 27, 2023
    vPalestine urges international action to end Israeli occupation, crimes
    Palestine urges international action to end Israeli occupation, crimes
    September 26, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    Microsoft Egypt aims to provide advanced AI models, build solid AI ecosystem: Mirna Arif
    September 18, 2023
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    I love privacy, and I am not concerned about competition: Yasmine Sabry
    September 14, 2023
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    Sustainability, digital transformation at the heart of our strategy: Heidelberg Materials Egypt
    September 12, 2023
    India welcomes Egypt's BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    India welcomes Egypt’s BRICS membership: Boosting trade, investment, and access to strategic commodities
    September 11, 2023
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma Hassan
    The box office is not a measure of success: Basma
    September 6, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Is Egypt out to topple Hamas?
Share
Notification
Latest News
Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Science
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Science
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Science
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Business
Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
Saudi Public Investment Fund eyes stake in Palm Hills Development
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Opinion > Is Egypt out to topple Hamas?
Opinion

Is Egypt out to topple Hamas?

Daily News Egypt
Last updated: 2013/11/02 at 5:39 PM
By Daily News Egypt 7 Min Read
Share
Daniel Nisman
SHARE
Daniel Nisman
Daniel Nisman

By Daniel Nisman

On 11 November, the ninth anniversary Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death, an internet-mobilised protest campaign called “Tamarod” will kick off in the Gaza Strip. The group is based on Egypt’s Tamarod movement, which enabled the ousting of President Morsi, and similarly aims to topple the coastal strip’s ruling Islamist Hamas party.

Since seizing power in Gaza from its secular Fatah rivals in 2007, Hamas has never been one to shy away from a crackdown and has always succeeded in crushing dissent before it can make international headlines. This time, however, is different. Gaza’s Tamarod not only boasts tens of thousands of diverse and committed supporters, but also has the backing of the Arab world’s largest nation, whose powerful military is already choking Gaza’s economy with no intention of easing its grip. Tensions with Egypt’s new government have gotten so bad that local media reported in October that an Egyptian military incursion under the banner of counter terrorism could occur in the near term.

Even for a region which breeds conspiracies, rumors of an Egyptian military operation in the political minefield that is the Gaza Strip remain farfetched. The non-military measures being inflicted by Egypt, however, are increasing concerns among Hamas’ leadership that the end of its rule in Gaza is being orchestrated.

Due to an invigorated Egyptian military bent on crushing dissent in the Sinai Peninsula, there are fewer than 20 smuggling tunnels left operating under the largely closed Rafah border crossing. That’s down from an estimated 1,200 before the Egyptian revolution. Lost revenues from tunnel operations have cost Hamas over a third of its budget, while costing Gaza’s economy hundreds of millions of dollars per month. In the month of August, only 77% of Hamas’ 50,000 civil servants received full wages, a number expected to grow as the economy deteriorates. The loss of cheap fuel supplies provided by the tunnels has caused even longer lines at petrol stations, kept fishing trawlers docked in Gaza City’s harbour, and forced the Strip’s sole power plant to increase its rationing, threatening to increase blackouts to up to 16 hours per day.

The Egyptian military’s reasoning behind the tunnel and border closures is simple: Hamas and other militants in the Gaza Strip are assisting supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in waging a campaign of terrorism against the state.

Cairo’s concerns are understandable. After all, Hamas is an extension of the regional Muslim Brotherhood movement and has long acted openly as an Iranian proxy – an embodiment of everything that Egypt’s secular, western-sympathetic military opposes. Over the years, Hamas’ desire to amass thousands of rockets and weapons to combat Israel has fertilised the destabilising black market in the Sinai Peninsula, tempting much of the local Bedouin population to turn against the Egyptian state in favour of Islamic extremism and organised crime.

Egypt’s new government has made no secret of its disdain for Hamas. On numerous occasions, officials have stated that Hamas’ arch-rival, Fatah Party, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians. Meanwhile, cooperation between Gaza’s Tamarod movement and its influential Egyptian counterpart has become more than obvious, and are even speculated to be facilitated by Cairo. Leaders of the two movements have held numerous high-profile meetings, with Cairo hosting the majority of the Gaza Tamarod’s activities outside of the Gaza Strip and beyond the preying hands of Hamas’ storm troops.

Egypt’s political and economic pressure on Hamas has become so effective that concerns in Israel have risen regarding a dangerous security vacuum in the Gaza Strip. In September 2013, the IDF’s Southern Command chief revealed to local media that a delegation had been sent to Cairo urging Egypt’s generals to ease pressure on Hamas. The IDF reportedly fears that the group’s desperation may collapse that ceasefire by turning Hamas back under Iran’s destabilising influence, or otherwise by giving up on its campaign to prevent fringe jihadist groups from firing rockets into Israel and provoking a larger conflict.

Israel’s concerns are reflective of a larger quandary when dealing with Hamas in a way that preserves regional stability and advances the interests of both Jerusalem and Cairo. But despite Hamas’ current commitment to a ceasefire with Israel, the crisis with Egypt has ultimately exposed its larger role as an authoritarian regime and an inhibitor of regional stability. The uncovering of a Hamas-built 1.7 kilometre tunnel to be used in terrorist attacks in Israeli territory by the IDF on 7 October further speaks volumes on what this group chooses to use its scarce concrete and finances on.

With the clock ticking down to 11 November, Hamas’ handling of Tamarod and the general socio-economic discontent in Gaza has further exposed the group’s true colours. Dozens of suspected activists have been rounded up, independent media outlets have been shuttered, and the Hamas leadership has begun to crawl back to Iran amidst its growing diplomatic isolation.

Despite mounting economic isolation, there is little serious talk amongst Hamas’ leadership of reconciling with Fatah and reconnecting the isolated territory with the West Bank and the rest of the region — a long-standing demand of Gaza’s residents. Hamas’ uncompromising ideology obstructs any complicity in ongoing efforts to reach a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel — which would have a resoundingly beneficial impact on regional stability and the livelihood of the Palestinian people. As long as this is the case, then perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for Egypt’s military to allow Hamas’ rule in Gaza to be swept up by popular anger and cast into the dustbin of history.

Daniel Nisman is the Middle East Intelligence Director at Max Security Solutions, a geopolitical risk consulting firm. You can follow him on Twitter @Dannynis.

You Might Also Like

Opinion| Switzerland, a reliable partner of Egypt in a changing world

Palestine urges international action to end Israeli occupation, crimes

Egypt plans to sell stakes in AlexBank, Vodafone, and other assets by June 2024

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia resume talks on GERD in Addis Ababa

Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq discuss economic, political cooperation in New York

TAGGED: Daily News Egypt, DNE, Egypt, hamas, international, Israel, Palestine, politics
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Update: ‘Al-Bernameg’ denies plans to move to another channel
Next Article Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinian children continues
31 Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Genetically engineering associations between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes could lessen dependence on synthetic fertilizer
Science
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of global grain production, says new research
Science
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Researchers build and test a framework for achieving climate resilience across diverse fisheries
Science
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Egypt to issue new bonds for climate, social goals
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?