Huwaidi: Zionist enemy only beneficiary from Gaza tunnel demolitions

Prominent Egyptian intellectual and writer Fahmi Huwaidi expressed anxiety that the present Egyptian authorities are dealing with the residents of the Sinai as guilty rather than innocent, by force rather than law, by reaction rather than wisdom in a way which would turn the Sinai into a battle front rather than a part of the country.

In an articles published by al-Shurouq on Thursday, Huwaidi also expressed surprise at the way the present authorities dealt with tunnels between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. “If what is happening in the Sinai in the name of fighting terrorism surprises us, what is happening at the border with Gaza leaves us bewildered. This is because we know of no convincing reason or national interest for it to happen. I am talking about the destruction of tunnels and establishing a buffer zone along 13 Kilometres of borders. I feel humiliated when I think that Israel is the only beneficiary of both acts. It is the only beneficiary from strangling and starving the [Gaza] Strip and it is the only beneficiary from a buffer zone which the Mubarak regime could not implement five years ago (in 2008), so he stopped it to avoid the wrath of the [Egyptian] people.”

“One can only accept that the campaign against the tunnels and making Egyptians believe that they constitute danger to Egypt has succeeded, but anyone with conscience should be unsettled by thinking of the humanitarian disaster that threatens the Gaza Strip as a result of the demolition of those tunnels. What is even more baffling is the fact that opening the Rafah crossing for passengers and goods under Egyptian control would constitute an alternative that would put the minds of Egyptians at rest and relieves the people of the Strip, but its only problem is that it will not gain the approval of Israel.”