by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi leveled sharp accusations against Israel on Tuesday, claiming the war in Gaza has become a campaign of genocide and starvation rather than a legitimate military operation. In a fiery press conference held alongside Vietnamese President Luong Cuong in Cairo, Sisi declared that the war’s true objective was not merely to defeat Hamas but to “starve the population, commit genocide, and eliminate the Palestinian cause.”
Sisi also pushed back strongly against growing international criticism suggesting Egypt is complicit in the blockade of the Gaza Strip. “The claims made by some that Egypt is participating in the blockade of the Palestinian people in Gaza and contributing to their starvation are absurd and bankrupt,” he said. “These are strange words.”
His comments came as Israel’s security cabinet debated whether to authorize a full military occupation of Gaza, signaling a potential turning point in the conflict. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, Egypt has found itself under pressure from both international actors and regional voices, including growing public frustration at home.
Sisi rejected accusations that Egypt was hindering aid efforts, asserting that more than 5,000 aid trucks are currently stationed in Egypt, waiting for clearance to enter the Strip. “Egypt has not abandoned its role,” he insisted. “We are making significant efforts to stop the war and ensure the flow of assistance to those in need.”
He further clarified that of Gaza’s five border crossings, only one–Rafah–is connected to Egypt, while the remaining four are under Israeli control. This, he implied, undercuts claims that Egypt bears primary responsibility for the humanitarian bottleneck.
In an appeal to the international community, Sisi warned that “history will hold many countries accountable” for their inaction and tacit complicity in the suffering of the Palestinian people. “The global human conscience will not remain silent for long,” he said.
The Egyptian president also criticized what he described as the cynical exploitation of Gaza’s suffering for political leverage. “This war is no longer about achieving diplomatic aims or freeing hostages, but has become a war of starvation, genocide, and the elimination of the Palestinian issue,” he stated.
Cairo has faced mounting criticism from various directions in recent weeks. Internally, Egyptians have held demonstrations calling for their government to do more, while externally, voices from countries like Qatar have turned up the pressure. A prominent Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated cleric recently called on Arab masses to march toward Israel’s borders in defiance of the ongoing war.
In response to Sisi’s remarks, a senior Israeli official dismissed the accusations as “baseless propaganda” and emphasized that Israel’s war is directed solely at Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre and the ongoing hostage crisis.
“The IDF operates in accordance with international law, and every effort is made to minimize civilian harm,” the official said. “We categorically reject President Sisi’s false and inflammatory claims. Israel is not at war with the Palestinian people–it is at war with Hamas, which hides behind civilians and uses them as human shields.”
The Israeli official also pointed to Egypt’s control of the Rafah border crossing. “If Egypt is truly concerned about the flow of aid, it should work with us to ensure that assistance reaches civilians without benefiting Hamas,” the official added.
As the war grinds on, so too does the diplomatic battle–one that increasingly centers not just on military strategy, but on narratives of legitimacy, morality, and responsibility.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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