Hamas is leading Egypt into war with Israel

President el-Sisi must navigate a delicate balance between inciting conflict with Hamas and upholding the peace treaty with Israel, says diplomat.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A tense controversy is brewing between Hamas and Egypt over the Rafah Crossing.

The Rafah crossing, near the border between Egypt and Gaza, is currently controlled by Egypt, but Israel has authority over the Palestinian side.

Hamas complains that Egypt is not opening access to the crossing sufficiently to get enough humanitarian aid.

Egypt is concerned that widening access will put it in conflict with Israel, with which it has upheld a peace treaty since 1979.

In addition, Hamas demands that Egypt support the terror group, alleging that Israel is seeking to expel it from Gaza.

Osama al-Daleel, a journalist close to the Egyptian government, explained the situation in an interview on Al Arabiya.

Currently, Israel inspects aid before allowing it into the Rafah Crossing. Although Israel and Egypt have been cooperating on the issue of aid transfer, Hamas is criticizing Egypt for exaggerating the amount of aid passing through and not doing enough for Gaza.

Hamas Deputy Political Bureau Chief Khalil al-Hayya directly criticized Egypt and Jordan for allegedly not transferring enough aid.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi defended Egypt’s position against Hamas’ accusations.

Amira Oron, a former Israeli ambassador to Egypt, said el-Sisi must navigate a delicate balance between creating conflict with the volatile terrorist group and maintaining the peace treaty with Israel.

Egypt has consistently supported a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which would solve its quandary in dealing with both parties over the Rafah crossing.

Egypt, along with Qatar, has participated in formulating repeated hostage-release and cease-fire negotiations, which recently collapsed under Hamas’ renewed demands.