Israeli Minister Accuses Hamas of Plotting to Oust Egypt's President, Attacks Arab Parties

Israeli Minister of National Security Yisrael Katz has accused Hamas of collaborating with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Turkey, and coordinating with Iranian elements, to plan the overthrow of Egyptian President el-Sisi. Katz made these intelligence-based accusations officially without presenting supporting evidence, using the claims to warn against the inclusion of Arab parties in the upcoming Israeli government.

In a statement released Sunday, Katz alleged that Hamas is working with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and its organization in Turkey to instigate a "revolution against Egyptian President el-Sisi." He claimed that Khaled Ghannam, head of external intelligence for Hamas, is managing and funding these activities in coordination with Iranian regime elements.

The public disclosure of such high-level intelligence accusations against Hamas, directly concerning Egyptian regime security, is considered a significant step by the Israeli security establishment. This comes amid Cairo's relations with Hamas, Egypt's role in the Palestinian issue, and internal efforts to delegitimize Arab parties in Israel.

Katz also claimed that Egypt has completed its procedures to ban the Muslim Brotherhood, a decision welcomed by the United States and several Arab nations, though he provided no further details on these positions.

Shifting focus, the Israeli minister attacked Arab parties in the Knesset amid deliberations on forming the next government. He asserted that some are seeking to include what he described as "Hamas's sister movement" in the government coalition, even after the October 7, 2023 attack. Katz specifically criticized Mansour Abbas, head of the United List, alleging that Abbas "does not even accept the definition of Hamas as a terrorist organization" and that his movement is "closely linked to an ideology that seeks to transform Israel into an Islamic caliphate."

Katz warned that "those who are preparing to bring down the president of the largest and strongest Arab country in the name of a radical Islamic ideology will not hesitate to commit a massacre in the Jewish state if given the opportunity." He called for broad Israeli consensus to reject any political cooperation with Arab parties he characterized as "Islamic and nationalist," accusing them of maintaining ties with "Israel's enemies" and working for its destruction. Katz's statements arrive amidst ongoing Israeli debate over the role of Arab parties in the formation of the next government and attempts to delegitimize their participation or reliance on their parliamentary support. His statement provided no evidence for the accusations leveled against Hamas or the United List.