Egyptians mourn victims of Sinai attack

2012-08-08 By Mohamed Mahmoud in Cairo

Egyptian relatives cry on the coffin of a soldier killed during Sunday's attack at a border checkpoint in the Sinai. [Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters]

Egyptians expressed grief and anger following the attack Sunday (August 5th) on security forces south of the border town of Rafah in the Sinai province, which left 16 soldiers dead and seven others wounded.

Thousands of Egyptians, including head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, military chief of staff Sami Anan and other senior officers attended a funeral for the soldiers held on Tuesday afternoon in Cairo.

"Whoever kills our soldiers, who are trying to protect our borders, is not a religious person but a criminal who harbours ill will for Egypt," said Gamal Mustafa, 28, who came to Cairo from Port Said to attend the funeral.

President Mohamed Morsi also said he was outraged at the attack, adding that the government will hold individuals responsible for the crime.

"We will take our revenge from those who killed our children and will avenge the attack on our homeland, dignity and borders," Morsi said during a visit to the town of al-Arish in Sinai.

Efforts to avenge those who were killed will be relentless and decisive, Morsi said.

He added that he will monitor the situation by the hour until the people of Sinai, their homes and property are secure and they can live in peace.

"The criminals who threaten the security of Sinai and Egypt will be eradicated, and all crime spots will be eliminated with all available means," he said.

Civilians mourn the soldiers' deaths

Mahmoud Antar, 35, who works in a café in Cairo's Mohandeseen district, said many café customers who often spend evenings watching Ramadan drama series chose to watch the news instead out of concern and sadness.

"Terrorism leaves a bitter taste," said café patron Moataz Mahmoud. "We Egyptians experienced it during the nineties and are not willing to go through that again. The attack on Egypt's sovereignty and borders is a red line, and we are all against it."

Lawyer Alia Wali, 33, said protecting the Sinai from extremists must be a priority for all governments, otherwise extremism could become an "epidemic" that is difficult to eradicate.

Violence in the Sinai began in earnest in July 2011, when masked gunmen surrounded the al-Arish police station and opened fire on security forces there, killing two officers and three civilians, and wounding 16 others. The group raised black banners inscribed with "No God but God and Mohammed is His Prophet."

There were also several attempts to blow up pipelines in the region that carry natural gas to Jordan and Israel.

Calls for unity against extremist elements

Scholars, led by Dr. Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, denounced the attack. Gomaa said it was a "criminal terrorist attack" disconnected from the teachings of all religions and human conventions.

He said the government and the population need to "stand together and unite to head off these mischievous hands, and eradicate them from the earth, whatever their political, religious or intellectual affiliations, which only know violence, militancy and blood, and spread terror among peaceful citizens".

Former MP and political science professor at American University in Cairo, Dr. Amr al-Hamzawy, said the attack targeted Egyptian sovereignty.

"We must confront this danger so as not to turn Sinai into a haven for terrorists operating against Egypt," he said.

Al-Hamzawy said it is important to intensify intelligence efforts to identify terrorist elements and remove them from the Sinai.

Importance of economic development

Al-Hamzawy also said that a security solution must be accompanied with comprehensive economic development in the Sinai to eliminate the main causes that led to the emergence of violent armed groups, including poverty and unemployment.

Dr. Ammar Ali Hassan, a specialist on Islamist groups, agreed that local conditions contribute to the rise of violent groups.

"The environment in the Sinai and its lack of development make it a fertile ground for the emergence of takfiri jihadist organisations, which appear from time to time to achieve their goals and vanish after that," he said.

"Some of these jihadist groups are small in size, not cohesive and seek to revive the idea of an alternative homeland, thereby turning the Sinai Peninsula into their haven."

He said improving the region's economic and social conditions will help integrate the Sinai into Egyptian society and automatically eliminate extremist elements.

"This must be done within the framework of a comprehensive plan whereby the people of the Sinai, state agencies, political forces and civil society work together as one," Hassan said.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS ARTICLE? (TOTAL VOTES: 508)

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READER COMMENTS

محمدسعد

2012-9-11

God suffice us me for He is the Best Disposer of affairs!
عبوده

2012-9-7

O Lord, guide all the people and make their manners good. O God, make the President loved by the people!
علي عبد اللاه

2012-9-5

May God have mercy on him and give his parents patience. Fight the people of disbelief, hypocrites and those who want to spread corruption on earth. May God protect you Egypt!
vربيع رجب عبدالحميدمحمدمازورة

2012-9-4

I love Egypt.
موسى

2012-9-4

There should be an execution in a public square of everyone whokills! It should be done without trials or long proceedings. Just executing one of them will make everybody angels!!
سيف الدين

2012-9-2

Egypt is the land of God, we have to love her!
moodbestawy

2012-8-31

Survival to God!
سلمان

2012-8-30

Salman Hassan El Atamooni! There must be revenge for the sake of Sinai's martyrs, Doctor Morsi, no matter what the price is. God is great!
سامح احمد محمد

2012-8-29

Egypt is targeted and we have to keep the country save. Egypt is above everybody!
صبرى طلبة

2012-8-26

I hope they catch quickly those criminals, and find out their mastermind and trial them publicly!
aliabdo73

2012-8-24

O God, protect Egypt from every traitor. O, Lord of the Worlds!
سيد بركات طنطا غربيه

2012-8-24

The Muslim who kills a Muslim can never be a Muslim. He has to be killed. Fight the disbelievers, the hypocrites and all those who spread corruption on earth! May God protect you Egypt! I love you Egypt.
abdlkrem fayez

2012-8-24

Egypt is the mother of the world.
هبه رضا

2012-8-24

The true man is the one who acts and does only talk.
اميرة محمود

2012-8-23

Egypt is above all. O God! help its elected president and army and protect them from all harms.
محمد

2012-8-23

To God we belong and to Him we shall return!
سعاد يوسف

2012-8-23

Words are many, what matters is the action.
احمد فرج محمود

2012-8-22

Why have not they exposed or announced the executers of the disloyal attack? Who sent them, whoever they are, who is he? I will be very thankful if you answer me!
ام محمد

2012-8-22

O Lord, shake the earth under the oppressors! God suffices us against the killers of our youth, for He is the Best Disposer of affairs!
هاشم السيد بدير محمد

2012-8-22

O God protect Mursi just like you protected Yunis (Jonah) in the belly of the whale, Moses in the pall and protect the beloved Muhammad by the spider web! Glorified You Are, for You are The Ever-Living that does not die!
فضلون الدقهليه مصر

2012-8-21

God is our supporter and best helper against all those who ar accusing the Brotherhood and Muslims of committing this crime…Fear God!
دودو

2012-8-21

God is our supporter and best helper! May God help you, beloved Egypt, against all your enemies.
جمال

2012-8-20

They plot and God plots, and God is the best of all planners!
زياد القيسي

2012-8-20

They don't kill the children, but they fight America and the tyrants!
محمد سيد

2012-8-20

This is natural after the mean revolution!
على

2012-8-20

God is our supporter and best helper!
ابراهبم

2012-8-20

We must unite!
ةسقشصغاصشقغ

2012-8-20

Say it will not happen to us, except what God has decreed for us.
محمود المغازى

2012-8-20

Their blood is the responsibility of the rulers! God our supporter!
صبحي المهدي

2012-8-20

According to the instructions of President Morse - the beloved President - the construction and planting of Sinai by its inhabitants is the first step to restoring security and stability. This can't be accomplished unless we work together, aiming at reconstructing Sinai, getting rid of the terrorist elements and living on its land, forming and practicing their new social life, and this will encourage the new graduates.
k.ossam

2012-8-19

I, God forbids saying I, I know God very well; someday I may die like the martyrs who died, but they are alive and gain their rewards there! We can build houses for all the people, and then I can look good in front of people, but how about me in front of God and in the Day of Judgment? I don't know what is my fate? But God rewards everyone according to his intentions and conscience! But as for you Mohamed Morsi, we don't know what is our reward to you among ourselves in front of God, the Almighty! Don't you think that we will be in one boat with you and your associates because you are not different from any other one that one can read!
عبد العزيز

2012-8-18

The security of Egypt and Egyptians is above every consideration.
احمد الاسدية

2012-8-18

May God protect Egypt from every evil and make it the country of security and safety.
احمدمحمدعلى مصطفى شيحة

2012-8-18

There is neither might nor power except from God!
حسين رضا

2012-8-18

There is neither might nor power except from God!
ممعشوق البنات

2012-8-17

God protect Egypt.
مسليم في كوردستان

2012-8-16

We belong to God and to God we will return.
MAGED AHMED

2012-8-16

I'm certain that President Morsi and the military forces will take revenge for the people and our sons.
ريكو

2012-8-16

God always protects us.
مدحت ابوالنور

2012-8-16

The Egyptian Army is a red line! Never touch it! Over our 80 million dead bodies.
انس

2012-8-16

Mr. President, the military council must be put on trial!
abdelrahman

2012-8-16

What is happening in Egypt is unforgivable! God is our supporter and best helper and against the oppressor!
[email protected]

2012-8-16

God is our supporter and best helper! God bless them in this sacred month, the month of Ramadan when the Qur'an was sent!
[email protected]

2012-8-16

They are all martyrs and will be blessed!
shadyakram

2012-8-16

Egypt, the bride of the East, is about to fall down!
ايمن الفولى

2012-8-16

God is our supporter and best helper against all those who participated in killing the innocent guardians of our country!
أشرف الزين

2012-8-15

O God, bless our martyrs, destroy our enemies, and don't disappoint us! O God, reward us in our loss and compensate us with something better than it! O God, help us follow into our martyrs' steps and those of good people, and the good companions in Paradise!
المصرى

2012-8-15

Save Egypt!
بكرالعشيبى

2012-8-15

There is no power but from God!
سلمى

2012-8-15

Egypt will not be good as long as Khamenei and the Brotherhood rule!
محمدحميدة

2012-8-15

God is our supporter and best helper! God will take revenge on him!
احمد سامح

2012-8-14

What they are doing to us and the Egyptian soldiers is prohibited!
يمنية حرة

2012-8-14

I am a Yemeni woman. I love Egypt. May God protect them and us! May God protect Muhammad Mursi, the best President.
احمد المرسى

2012-8-14

O, may God protect Egypt from all evils and make it a land of security and stability!
عمر طحاوى على

2012-8-13

No one agrees with what is happening!
محسن الشاطر

2012-8-13

God is with Doctor Mohamed Morsi!
ايهاب

2012-8-12

Mohamed Morsi has made the best decision in the history of Egypt!
rehab

2012-8-12

God is our supporter and best helper and He is against the oppressors!
احمد

2012-8-12

Egypt is for all Egyptians!
ابو سيف

2012-8-12

The Great Egyptian Military Forces and the Sinai Bedouins, with the President's support, will teach these murderers and anyone who tries to transgress the Egyptian nation a lesson they will never forget!
محمود ابوشريف

2012-8-12

May God keep you Mursi for us!
ahmed moussa

2012-8-12

This is very normal. We condemn, denounce, refuse and don't accept etc. This is very normal. O God, I hope we change!
والد السعوديه

2012-8-11

God suffices me for He is the Best Disposer of affairs in Ramadan, the month of goodness!
خالد الطالب

2012-8-11

Whatever God wills! I say that no one cared about you till now! Give me 3 millions and you will not be killed.
مح

2012-8-11

The protected Egypt! I love Egypt!
فاطمة عبدالرؤوف السيد

2012-8-11

I liked it very much to the point that I sat in front of the computer more than the due time. I hope constant progress for you, by the Will of the All-Merciful!
احمد بنها وى

2012-8-11

We have to retaliate for them)!
محمد

2012-8-11

I do not feel comfortable. Seriously, I am not optimistic.
زيزو محسن

2012-8-11

To God we belong and to Him we shall return!
samir

2012-8-11

May God improve the conditions of all Muslims! Amen, O Lord!
علاء وزيرى

2012-8-10

May God have mercy on them and accommodate them in His Broadest Gardens (God suffices me for He is the Best Disposer of affairs)!
مختار سليم

2012-8-10

Prohibited!
محمد السويسى

2012-8-10

In the name of God most gracious most merciful, first of all what took place in these days isn't for the good of Egypt; in fact the 25th January Revolution hasn't yet reformed everything that had been carried out by the National Security sector; I swear Egypt will not change, we'll remain the same as before.
محمود المصرى

2012-8-10

In fact, Morsi isn't the proper man for the office; the post is too big for him! His decisions are negative. The state needs a powerful strong President, and Morsi isn't that man and will not benefit the country!
ايمن

2012-8-10

God is our supporter and best helper!
فوزي

2012-8-10

Not by saying, rather by deeds. Enough with the talking, we need action!
حسين

2012-8-10

The country is still asleep! Wake up, country, in order to go to sleep again.
احمد على

2012-8-10

Mohammed Morsi, President of Egypt, is the reason behind the incident.
جنزير

2012-8-10

I'd like to tell the whole world that we are ready to sacrifice our souls for the mother land; at least those are martyrs!
صبايا المستقبل

2012-8-9

We challenge the ones who killed our soldiers. The Egyptians don't know anyone at the time of a challenge!
هاشم عنيد

2012-8-9

Suicide and terrorist bombing acts are unacceptable from the part of Men of Religion, religion itself, the values and the principles as well as from all people. The acts that incite violence and extremism are equally rejected given that they may result in shedding the blood of the innocent civilians. In addition, extremism and terrorism reflect that those who carry out such acts are devoid of feelings and that they have sold their conscience because of money and in order to tarnish the image of Islam and sow sectarianism. Therefore, Men of Religion and religious scholars have to eradicate all these terrorist and extremist members so that the latter will not be able to deceive young men and women and involve them in any act. This will also prevent these people from attracting the youth by huge amounts of money and weapons. In fact, all such things may be the main reason behind what is taking place in all the Arab countries.
ramesadek

2012-8-9

To my fellow citizens: what is the cause of Hania's visit- the ousted Gaza ruler who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood- to the General Guide, El Murshed, of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt? What role did Hamas play in breaking in through the Egyptian prisons to set the Hamas and Hezbollah prisoners free, killing a big number of Egyptian prisoners? What are the reasons that led the ruler of Egypt to issue an amnesty to the criminal prisoners? All this coincided in the month of Ramadan before his attack against the citizens! Review these serious incidents and tomorrow, all will pay the price for our bad choice, for the second time, of elements from the Muslim Brotherhood to run the country; we forgot their history!
مصرى بيحب طنه

2012-8-9

The greatest extremists are the Muslim Brotherhood. They must be confronted and put in their place, as before.
ayman mashaly

2012-8-9

It is saddening and sorrowful! God is our supporter and best helper and against all those who kill an innocent soul! This is blind terrorism! I wonder who is behind that incident.
محمد

2012-8-9

I am an Egyptian.
سعيد فرغلى

2012-8-9

God suffices me for He is the Best Disposer of affairs! May God retaliate against the oppressors who did such criminal act!
شفاء

2012-8-9

God is our supporter and best helper!
محسن

2012-8-9

The State of Egypt has become a breeding ground for the different experiments. The experience dates back to the beginning of the reign of the Mamluks in ancient times. Then, we witnessed the rule of the military and eventually the Muslim Brotherhood. Indeed, Egypt has become a laboratory where everyone seeks to implement his experiments and try out his ideology. I wonder why Egypt is not ruled by institutions and not the State of individuals, political parties and groups.
01518424637

2012-8-8

God is our supporter and best helper! May God give patience to all who lost their sons!