Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Amid rising regional tensions following Israel’s unprecedented strike in Doha, retired Egyptian General and military strategist Samir Farag has issued a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, cautioning that any military action targeting Hamas figures on Egyptian soil would provoke a catastrophic regional response.
Speaking during a televised interview on the Egyptian program Hazrat al-Muwatin (“The Citizen”), Farag responded directly to Netanyahu’s recent declaration that Israel would target Hamas leaders “wherever they are,” even if they reside in third countries.
“If Israel dares to strike within Egypt, you will open the gates of hell upon yourselves,” Farag said, emphasizing that such an act would constitute a blatant violation of Egyptian sovereignty and would trigger a forceful and uncompromising reaction from Cairo.
Farag, a former head of the Egyptian Armed Forces’ Morale Affairs Department and a well-known defense commentator, questioned which countries Netanyahu was referring to in his threats. “There are only three nations where Hamas leaders could reasonably be hosted: Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt,” he stated.
Strategic Calculations: Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt
Farag outlined the geopolitical complexities surrounding each of the three countries:
- Qatar, he noted, has already experienced a direct Israeli strike with the recent attack in Doha that killed senior Hamas officials. The incident drew widespread international condemnation and further destabilized an already fragile situation in the region.
- Turkey, as a member of NATO, presents an entirely different calculus. “Any Israeli strike on Turkish soil could invoke Article 5 of the NATO charter,” Farag explained, referencing the clause that treats an attack on one member state as an attack on all. “That could draw in up to 34 countries in a collective military response. It’s not a step Israel can take lightly.”
- Egypt, however, stands as a pivotal actor in the region with both the capability and willingness to defend its territory and national interests. “Egypt has already sent a clear message to Tel Aviv and to Washington: any Israeli violation of Egyptian sovereignty will be met with an overwhelming response,” Farag said. “The outcome of such an Israeli miscalculation would be catastrophic for the entire region.”
A Message Heard in Washington
Farag added that this warning has not only been communicated to Israel but also directly to the United States. He cited reports from CNN indicating that a senior Egyptian official conveyed Cairo’s red lines to the Biden administration, underscoring Egypt’s unwillingness to tolerate any cross-border aggression.
“This is not mere rhetoric,” Farag warned. “Egypt considers its sovereignty and national security as sacrosanct. Any provocation will be met with strength and resolve.”
Egypt’s Military Deterrence
According to Farag, Israel is fully aware of Egypt’s military capabilities, which serve as a formidable deterrent. “The Egyptian Armed Forces are among the most capable in the region, with advanced equipment and highly trained personnel,” he said. “Israel knows that any confrontation with Egypt would be unlike any other it has faced in recent years.”
In the current climate where diplomacy, military calculations, and regional rivalries are increasingly entangled Farag’s statements reflect the gravity with which Egypt views the situation. As Israel signals a willingness to expand its reach in targeting Hamas leaders abroad, Cairo has made it unequivocally clear: Egyptian soil is a red line that must not be crossed.
