Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Mahmoud Hassan
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Charity work is now firmly restricted in Egypt
In Giza, near the Egyptian capital, people rush towards a large truck, which is distributing food parcels labelled “Long live Egypt”. The scene is repeated in many other neighbourhoods and other governorates. Such distributions are supervised by security and governmental bodies, who celebrate them and even take photos of...
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What are the hidden details of the Egypt-UAE Ras Al-Hikma deal?
Despite the official Egyptian cheer for the Ras Al-Hikma deal with the UAE, questions remain, even though Egypt is counting on it to get out of its stifling economic crisis. The deal was concluded a few days ago, and is receiving a lot of attention. It is seen as...
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The Muslim Brotherhood’s future in Egypt following Sisi-Erdogan summit
It must have been difficult for members of the Muslim Brotherhood to watch Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting the movement’s sworn enemy, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, in a bilateral summit in Cairo two weeks ago. The summit was a pivotal step towards Turkiye-Egypt reconciliation. It followed a...
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What are Egypt’s response scenarios to an Israeli attack on Rafah?
The possibility of an imminent Israeli ground attack on the Palestinian city of Rafah is strong, amid fears of a humanitarian catastrophe that will exacerbate the tragic conditions in the Gaza Strip, in its fifth month under fire. The Israelis are working fast to get the green light from...
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Erdogan's visit to Egypt: possible gains and compromises
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Cairo has several implications. It holds expected gains and possible concessions from both sides, amid an urgent and mutual need for more rapprochement and bilateral cooperation. The visit, which took place on Wednesday, was a turning point in the course of relations between...
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Dollar madness sweeps Egypt
“What’s the dollar exchange rate?” has become the most asked question on the Egyptian streets. It has been accompanied by dramatic changes in the prices of goods and commodities, scarcity of foreign currency and an insane wave of record high prices. Meanwhile, everyone is in anticipation of the decision...
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Corruption in Egypt – its guards are its thieves!
“Its guards are its thieves” is a popular proverb used by common people in Egypt. It is often used when uncovering corruption cases, especially in this most populous Arab country, located between the most corrupt countries in the world. In terms of corruption, Egypt ranked 130 out of 180 countries, according...
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Gaza and Egypt’s options regarding the Philadelphi Corridor
The importance of the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt has increased recently in light of conflicting statements and scenarios. Open and secret activities are taking place which aim to chart a new reality in this strategic area. The corridor is 14 kilometres long, and a few...
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There’s a new deficit in Egypt's finances and matters are likely to get worse
Money transfers to Egypt by citizens living abroad have declined by 30 per cent for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-2024 as per data from the Central Bank. This continued decline is leading to a new deficit in Egypt’s financial portfolio and putting great pressure on the...
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Egypt has tightened the grip on international support for Gaza
Egypt seems to be trying to stay in the middle regarding the Israeli military offensive against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. As this enters its fourth month, there are so many contradictions in the official position that Cairo may lose a lot of the influence that it has...
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Record price increases of cemetery plots in Egypt
In a new development in Egypt, modern and luxurious cemetery plots have hit the market recently at very high prices. This is happening in a country burdened with debt and suffering several crises, including high prices and low living and economic conditions. The new cemetery plots come with distinguished architectural...
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The Suez Canal is being attacked by the Houthis by default
Tension in the Red Sea threatens global trade and is bound to damage the Egyptian economy. The Suez Canal is being attacked by the Houthis by default with every attack they make on international shipping in the Red Sea, which is forcing shipping companies to suspend their use of...
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6 harsh years lie ahead of Egyptians
With the announcement that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has won a third presidential term which ends in 2030, Egyptians are facing the question of what challenges lie ahead over the next six years which will add to the many existing crises. The power cuts, which resumed after the three-day...
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Egypt presidential elections 2024: Why did the Egyptians sell their votes?
“Smile for the camera” was the name of an Egyptian movie that was made in 1998, and it has been embodied throughout the ongoing elections in Egypt from 10 December to 12 December. “Let’s all take a picture”. This was a scene in front of a poll centre in Giza near...
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Egyptians hope for a deal to release prisoners held by Al-Sisi
Thousands of Egyptian families have watched the mediation by their government and Qatar to get Israelis held by Hamas released in exchange for Palestinians held by the occupation state. They hope that their government will agree to a similar deal to release all political prisoners in Egypt. Tens of thousands...
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International standards for free and fair elections are not part of the process in Egypt
As the presidential election in Egypt scheduled to begin next Friday approaches, the result, allege the opposition, is predetermined amid doubts about the integrity of the electoral process. The Egyptian regime sees the election as an opportunity to confirm its legitimacy and obtain a third term for President Abdel...
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Al-Sisi is using the war in Gaza as an excuse for more repression
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi quite possibly sees the ongoing Israeli war against the Palestinians in Gaza as a blessing in disguise, because it has provided cover for his ongoing political and security repression in his own country before the presidential election next month. He hopes to stay in...
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Egypt's considerations for closing the Rafah border crossing
As the war in the Gaza Strip enters its second month and amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment of civilians and ground invasion, the importance of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza increases. The crossing is the only channel for delivering humanitarian aid to...
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Egypt's considerations for closing the Rafah crossing
As the war in the Gaza Strip enters its second consecutive month, amid violent Israeli bombardment of civilians, the importance of the Rafah land crossing between Egypt and the Occupied Palestinian Territories doubles. This crossing is the only means for delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, which is facing...
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Egypt: A new generation threatens Israel
A 7-year-old girl drew a Palestinian flag with her coloured pencils; a 10-year-old boy chanted while carrying his school bag, “No way, no how, we will not give up the land” and a 15-year-old girl wrote the word Gaza on her hands. Perhaps Israel does not realise the extent of...
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Sinai as an alternative to Gaza: Who is funding this? Who is passing the deal?
Egyptian Sinai has returned to the forefront of the conflict between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, with the circulation of plans that include the displacement of the residents of the Gaza Strip there, in exchange for a huge financial deal with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s regime. Despite...
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In Egypt, fear, poverty and money lead to endorsements of Sisi
You may be surprised if I told you that opponents of the current Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi have endorsed his candidacy in the presidential elections scheduled for December, in an effort on his part to win a third term lasting until 2030. It is also interesting that more than...
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Will Falcon be Egypt’s Wagner?
Threads are joining in Egypt, towards formulating new roles, which may be suspicious, for a major security company, with ties to the government, security and intelligence departments, amid great fears that dirty and secret tasks will be assigned to it in the coming period. Questions have arisen about the nature...
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Al-Sisi’s stark warning to Egyptian voters: it’s either me or chaos
Egyptian law requires each presidential candidate to collect a recommendation from 20 representatives in parliament, or certified letters of support from 25,000 citizens from at least 15 Egyptian governorates, with a minimum of 1,000 from each governorate. It is not possible to support more than one candidate. You can...