Gaza Strip - August 09, 2024

Egyptian experts have condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's remarks about starving Gaza people, saying that the comments as abhorrent incitement that violate international humanitarian law.

Smotrich, a right-wing minister known for his hostile ideas toward Palestinians, said at a conference hosted by the Israel Hayom newspaper earlier this month that preventing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was "morally justified."

International relations expert Bashir Abdel Fattah said that he believes Israel is taking the starvation policy as a tool to undermine the Palestinian cause.

The expert also warned that Israel's plan to transfer the Rafah crossing to the border triangle area of Karem Abu Salem is part of its new measures to tighten control over the Gaza-Egypt border.

Experts also call on the international community to take effective international actions to end the tragedy facing civilians in the Gaza Strip and ensure that legal and moral standards are observed.

Shotlist:
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - Aug 9, 2024:
1. Various of displaced people fleeing, destroyed buildings;
Cairo, Egypt - Recent
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ghada Jaber, political writer and researcher (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shot 3):
"These remarks undoubtedly constitute a direct acknowledgment that Israel is perpetrating genocide against the Palestinian people, in violation of international law and humanitarian law. This is an admission of the war crimes that Israel is committing. Meanwhile, Egypt strongly rejects Smotrich's remarks, as they clearly acknowledge genocide and the policy of starving the Palestinians, which the Egyptian political leadership absolutely refuses to accept.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - Date Unknown
3. Egyptian national flag;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - July 22, 2024
4. Smoke rising from damaged building;
5. Various of people fleeing, rubble;
Cairo, Egypt - Recent
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bashir Abdel Fattah, expert in international relations (starting with shot 5/ending with shot 7):
"Cairo rejects the starvation policy, we reject the use of hunger or food as a political weapon. Cairo has been reaffirming its commitment to the principles of international law and legitimacy, which criminalize such actions. Israel has also restricted the activities of international organizations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), designating them as terrorists, even though they provide services to the Palestinians. This is an unreasonable and unacceptable escalation of Israel's occupation practices, as Israel resorts to using all kinds of weapons to undermine the Palestinian cause.";
FILE: Erez Crossing, Israel - Jan 18, 2024
7. Various of Israel's military vehicles passing Erez Crossing, Israeli troops;
FILE: Northern Israel - Oct 15, 2023
8. Various of tanks; Israeli flags on tanks;
FILE: Tel Aviv, Israel - June 2021
9. Israeli national flag;
FILE: Rafah City, Gaza Strip - March 23, 2024
10. Various of Rafah Crossing;
Cairo, Egypt - Recent
11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bashir Abdel Fattah, expert in international relations (ending with shot 12):
"When Israel tries to control this crossing from its side and transfers it to the border triangle of Karem Abu Salem, it is trying to plug the loopholes between Egypt and Israel, on the pretext of smuggling weapons tunnels. Its real purpose is to tighten security control over Gaza, preventing the arrival of humanitarian and relief supplies, on the pretext of preventing the entry of weapons. In fact, it is implementing a continuous policy of starvation and blockade against the Palestinians, and therefore Cairo rejects this. It contradicts the 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, which is seen as the cornerstone of security and stability in the region.";
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - July 24, 2022
12. Various of Egyptian national flag, building.

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