Israel Matzav

Egypt revoking citizenship from Hamas leaders

Egypt is revoking citizenship that was granted to Hamas leaders during the rule of Mohammed Morsy.

Under Morsi’s rule, the Egyptian authorities granted Egyptian citizenship to thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, including top Hamas officials.

One of the Hamas leaders who received an Egyptian passport was Mahmoud Zahar, who was born to an Egyptian mother.

The Palestinian daily Al-Quds reported that the Egyptian authorities have taken effective measures to revoke the citizenship of Zahar and many other Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

The paper quoted an Egyptian source as saying that the latest measure targeted Palestinians who are “affiliated with certain Palestinian political parties or those who are connected to outlawed groups in Egypt.”

The source pointed out that Egyptian law prohibits those who obtain Egyptian citizenship from engaging in political activities or membership in political parties in the first five years.

Palestinian sources claimed last year that the Egyptian authorizes had agreed to grant citizenship to more than 50,000 Palestinians who were born to Egyptian mothers.

I'm fine with this so long as it's limited to 'Palestinians' who live in Gaza. You might recall that Jordan's King Abdullah revoked citizenship from 'Palestinians' living in Jordan in order to ensure that they don't 'give up' their 'right of return.' If Egypt behaves similarly, that would be troublesome. But in the context of the Egyptian government's dispute with the Muslim Brotherhood, I can't really see a problem with what they're doing now.

Labels: Egypt, Gaza plenty, Hamas, Mahmoud al-Zahar, Mohammed Morsy, Muslim Brotherhood

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:12 PM