Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh said he holds Egyptian authorities fully responsible for the killing of a young Palestinian fisherman near Gaza on Thursday.
Haniyeh told reporters on Saturday that the incident represents a disregard for Palestinians lives and a blatant assault on the values, history and brotherhood ties that bind the Egyptian and Palestinian people.
He called on the Egyptian authorities to stop the suffering of the residents of the Gaza Strip, including through the closure of the Rafah crossing, flooding the border area and shooting at fishermen.
Egyptian authorities began flooding the border area with the Gaza Strip two months ago in order to destroy tunnels used to smuggle essential items into the besieged Strip.
Haniyeh reiterated his movement’s commitment to the security of Egypt, saying the movement’s weapons will remain pointing in the direction of the Israeli enemy.
On Thursday evening, Gaza’ interior ministry also announced it held the Egyptian authorities responsible for the death of the fisherman, while the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate demanded Egyptian authorities open an immediate investigation into the incident.
Firas Mekdad, 21, was killed on Thursday when the Egyptian army shot him while he was fishing at sea.
There has been no comment from Egypt following the incident.