EGYPT SUMMONS TURKISH ENVOY OVER ERDOGAN COMMENT

Cairo, 23 Ramadan 1435/21 July 2014 (MINA) – Egypt has summoned Turkey’s charge d’affaires after Ankara slammed Cairo’s handling of the situation in the besieged Gaza Strip amid Israeli occupation attacks on the territory.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish official on Sunday in protest over comments by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan about Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Manday.

Erdogan had called Sisi an “illegitimate tyrant” on Friday, saying Egypt’s current rulers are blocking humanitarian aid channels into Gaza. Erdogan also said Cairo could not be relied upon to negotiate a truce with Israel.

Relations between Ankara and Cairo have been strained since the Egyptian military ousted Mohamed Morsi, the country’s former president, last year in what Erdogan has repeatedly called a coup.

Erdogan’s comments came as Egypt had proposed a ceasefire plan between the Israeli regime and Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Hamas rejected the proposal, saying that it will not hold its fire without Israel agreeing to a list of demands, including an end to Tel Aviv’s years-long blockade on the Gaza Strip, along with the opening of the Rafah border crossing.

Israel began its latest onslaught against Palestinians in the coastal enclave on July 8.

According to figures provided by emergency services, the total number of people killed since the beginning of the operation stands at 469. More than 3,000 people have also been injured in the attacks.

Anti-Israel rallies are being held worldwide in condemnation of Tel Aviv’s atrocities against Palestinians. The demonstrators urge an immediate end to the bloodshed in Gaza. (T/P012/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)