El Sisi seeks a solution in Gaza to broaden his international profile

What the Arabic press is saying about Egypt's bid to mediate an end to Israel's assault on Gaza.

As the Israeli offensive continues in Gaza, Egypt has proposed an initiative for a truce between Hamas and Israel to put an end to the current round of violence.

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi cannot allow his initiative to fail and will do his best to guarantee its success, said Lina Al Khatib, a contributing columnist with the daily newspaper, Al Hayat.

“The Egyptian initiative comes at a critical time for Mr El Sisi. Gaza’s crisis erupted only two months after he gained power following an electoral campaign that pledged to restore Egypt’s leadership role in the Middle East,” she wrote.

“The new president needs to show his people that he is indeed a powerful regional leader and wants an opportunity to flex his muscles on the international scene.”

This isn’t Mr El Sisi’s first attempt to address this issue. In June, before the Israeli attack on Gaza, he had discussed with John Kerry, the US secretary of state, the regional threat of extremist Islamists in Syria. This was an indirect invitation to cooperate in antiterrorism and an indication of a potential role for Egypt in managing the Syrian conflict.

“But the present struggle in Palestine presents the Egyptian leader with a less complicated opportunity to secure an influential regional role for Egypt,” the writer suggested.

“Egypt has often mediated between Palestinians and Israelis in the past, and Mr El Sisi could benefit from the already existing lines of communication to attempt to reach an agreement.”

Cairo could also benefit from Qatar’s diminishing regional clout, leaving the way open for Mr El Sisi to present Egypt as a mediator in the drafting of an agreement over Gaza’s crisis. Qatar remains a player in the situation, but its role in the truce initiative is secondary to Egypt’s.

Should the Egyptian initiative be agreed, it would guarantee Mr El Sisi the upper hand with Hamas in the future, the writer added. It would also allow Egypt more control over its borders with Gaza and it would give more legitimacy to its actions against Islamist movements in Egypt, primarily Hamas’s ally, the Muslim Brotherhood.

The initiative, which Mr El Sisi proposed three days into Israel’s attack, called for a ceasefire and the halting of all aggression on both sides, to be followed by negotiations in Cairo over a formula for a long-term resolution.

Rajeh Al Khoury, a columnist in the Lebanese daily Annahar, said Hamas took issue with the proposed deal.

“Hamas objected to the term ‘aggression on both sides’ since it was Israel that was waging the attack on the Gaza Strip,” he wrote.

“It was also clear that it was looking for an agreement that extends beyond the ceasefire to ending the stifling conditions that the Gaza Strip and Hamas have been enduring for years.

“It is no secret that 50,000 employees on its payroll haven’t received their salaries for months, or that the Rafah passage, its main outlet unto Egypt, has been closed for months as the relationship with Mr El Sisi deteriorated following the collapse of the Muslim Brotherhood and the removal of Mohammed Morsi.

“All this is added to the continuing Israeli siege that has been asphyxiating Gaza,” he added.

Hamas officials say the colossal sacrifices and losses caused by the offensive so far make it impossible for them to go back on their demands. Hamas, which seems to have nothing to lose, wants the attack halted and an end to Israeli invasions and expansions.

It also wants Tel Aviv to lift the maritime and land siege and to ensure freedom of navigation and fishing up to 12 nautical miles from shore. It is asking for the release of all prisoners and for the end of mass sanctions and procedures against Palestinians.

“It is an attempt to secure a great victory despite the massive losses caused by the aggression,” Al Khoury observed.

Translated by Racha Makarem