Holocaust Survivor Goes on a Hunger Strike for Gaza, Egypt Doesn’t Care

By Hanitizer

An 85-year-old Holocaust survivor who gave a wonderful interview for Democracy Now about her planned trip to Gaza as part of the Gaza March had made it known that she is pissed at the way the Egyptian government have been treating her and follow activist who came in support of Gaza. American activist Hedy Epstein and other grandmothers taking part of the Gaza Freedom March have now began a hunger strike in Cairo Today to protest against the government of Egypt’s indifference and refusal to green light their solidarity march to head to Gaza as planned. Ms. Epstein was quoted by AFP saying:

“I’ve never done this before, I don’t know how my body will react, but I’ll do whatever it takes,” as she sat on a chair surrounded by hundreds of protesters outside the United Nations building in Cairo. There is also another protest being staged on the Street of the French Embassy in Cairo by few hundred French citizens who are part of the march.

The Egyptian foreign Ministry through its spokesperson had said they would not allow any of the 1,300 protesters who have come to Egypt from 42 countries to take part in the march to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, the only entry that bypasses Israel. Not sure why does Egypt insist on giving themselves all bad publicity in the world, by both insulting hundreds of international activists and telling the people of Gaza to simply die quietly. The authorities of Egypt have restored to name calling games, accusing the march and its organizers of using “sick”, “cheap” tactics. But perhaps the biggest insult came to light when the Egyptian government and its newspapers have been labeling the besieged and starved people of Gaza as “drug smugglers”, and “weapon dealers” in an attempt win the support of the Egyptian people.

Turkey another non-Arab actor sent an official on Saturday to try to convince the Egyptian government to to allow Viva Palestina to go through the Red Sea port, but Egypt insisted the convoy can only enter through El-Arish, on its Mediterranean coast. The fun started with the Foreign Ministry claimed that they will never allow the people of Gaza to starve and argued that they in the government have made sure that Gazans get their medications and food. This is a whopper and most people in Egypt are not going to buy that. It’s known that the tunnels–not the Egyptian government bring most of the goods that Gazans use daily.

I want to understand Egypt’s position I honesty want to, but it is hard to see their motive. First, they are mad the the Hamas leadership in Gaza (the botched prisoner swap, and the failed unity agreement), this is something many Palestinians understand. But why punish the people of Gaza and starting a pissing match with activist who only want to support Gaza in their struggle. If Egypt really wanted to punish Hamas Perhaps a better way to punish Hamas, is to ban their leaders from coming in and out of Egypt like a Vegas Casino and not denying the populace of Gaza freedom of movement. If readers comments on Egyptian news websites were an indication of the rage the people of Egypt have over their own governments tactics, the government and its slick spokesperson have not done a good job when lying through their teeth. I How Will Egyptian historians look at this incident and justify it to their coming generations? or do we not care about what our c