Hamas’ Haniyeh Blames Israel For Sinai Attack

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday led a mass prayer in solidarity with the victims of the terror attack in Kerem Shalom outside the Egyptian Embassy in Gaza in the backdrop of harsh accusations directed against the group following the attack.

Meanwhile, dozens of Egyptians protested outside the Israeli ambassador’s residence in Cairo calling on the Egyptian government to cut off relations with Israel, local media reported

On Tuesday, Israeli officials decided to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing which was the site of Sunday’s terror attack following a situation assessment. The crossing was closed Monday as part of the heightened alert.

Hamas, on its part, is still trying to fend off accusations that it was involved in the deadly attack. Haniyeh has called for the establishment of a joint Hamas-Egypt security coordination committee and vehemently denied any Palestinian involvement in the attack. “It is not possible any Palestinian would involve themselves, participate or incite to kill our brothers, the Egyptian people,” he said.

The Hamas leader made the statements during a second emergency government meeting following the attack. He said that Hamas is concerned with Egypt’s security and stability. “Security in Egypt is security in Palestine – compromising Egyptian security is compromising Palestinian national security.”

Some in Egypt’s fringes have called for heightened enforcement in the Rafah crossing and for action to be taken against Gaza, if need arises. Hamas in response raised alert at Gaza’s borders and stopped the tunnels’ activity.

Ynetnews