Egypt accuses Israel of abducting 4 Palestinians in Sinai

Egyptian authorities have accused Israel of abducting four Palestinians in the Sinai last month, Palestinian sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The four Palestinians from Gaza were kidnapped just 200 metres from the Rafah Crossing while they were escorted travelling with 45 other Palestinian passengers on a bus to Cairo airport, on their way to Turkey for treatment.

According to the sources, the Egyptian authorities told Palestinian mediators, who contacted them regarding the issue, that Israel abducted them and the Egyptian security forces have nothing with this issue.

Sources said Egyptian authorities noted that the Egyptian public intelligence services did not give details about the incident. At the same time it could not answer questions about Israel’s knowledge and information about the abductees and its ability to carry out such missions in Egypt.

The sources said that it is possible that an Egyptian group abducted the Palestinians and handed them over to the Israeli occupation. However, they said that the Egyptian narrative was not convincing adding that it lacked credibility.

Meanwhile, Egypt blamed Hamas for announcing the abduction of the four members and criticised remarks by Hamas leaders who accused Egypt of doing it.

Hamas said it was concerned about the fate of its four members. In a letter to the Egyptian Intelligence Minister Khalid Fawzi, Hamas said Egypt is responsible for the lives of the abductees, calling on it to immediately work to release them.