The correspondent said several thousand people had gathered in Tahrir Square, which had become the epicenter of the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
Media reported that rallies were held in other Egyptian cities on the 14th day of Israel’s bombardment of the enclave following deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7.
Public protests are generally illegal in Egypt, but President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday that he could “call on the Egyptian people to come out and express their opposition” to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip “and you would see millions on the streets the Egyptians”.
Later that day, thousands of people took to the streets.
Analysts say AF al-Sisi is seeking to take advantage of a wave of anger in the Arab world’s most populous country over the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
“We want to take control of public anger,” Cairo University politics professor Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed told AFP.
Pro-presidential media released a list of public squares and other places where protests will be tolerated and called on Egyptians to show their support for AF al-Sisi ahead of presidential elections in December.
Cairo’s Tahrir Square was not included in the list, and many people who took part in the demonstration in the square on Friday were proud of it.
“We are not here to give anyone new powers. This is a real demonstration,” chanted the crowd.
Later, the police pushed the protesters out of the square and into the nearby streets, an AFP correspondent reported.
The war in the Gaza Strip began after Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the enclave, launched a deadly raid into southern Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, inside Israeli territory.
Israel’s retaliatory bombardment of the area killed at least 4,137 people, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
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#Egypt #thousands #people #part #proGaza #rallies #AFP #media
**Interview with Dr. Layla Hassan, Middle East Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Hassan. We’re seeing significant public gatherings in Tahrir Square and other Egyptian cities, sparked by the situation in Gaza. What’s your take on the current protests?
**Dr. Hassan:** Thank you for having me. Yes, the protests we’re witnessing in Tahrir Square are not only a reflection of the public’s anger over the situation in Gaza but also a reminder of the historical significance of this location in Egypt’s political landscape. Tahrir Square was pivotal during the 2011 uprising, and now it has once again become a focal point for expressing dissent.
**Editor:** President Sisi has stated he would encourage the Egyptian people to voice their opposition to Israel’s actions. How does this align with the government’s previous stances on public protests?
**Dr. Hassan:** That’s a crucial point. Public protests have generally been illegal in Egypt since the 2013 crackdown on dissent. However, Sisi’s openness to allowing demonstrations signals a calculated move to harness public sentiment regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He’s aware of the anger among Egyptians over the suffering of Palestinians and seems to want to project an image of responsiveness to their concerns.
**Editor:** Analysts suggest that Sisi might be leveraging this situation to strengthen his position. What are the potential implications of this for his leadership and for Egypt?
**Dr. Hassan:** Indeed, Sisi is navigating a delicate balance. By allowing protests and presenting himself as a champion of Palestinian rights, he can reinforce his legitimacy domestically. However, this could also backfire if the protests spiral out of his control. The Egyptian public is deeply passionate about this issue, and if they feel their anger isn’t being adequately addressed, this could lead to a resurgence of widespread dissent.
**Editor:** Given the current tensions, what do you think will happen next in Egypt?
**Dr. Hassan:** It’s hard to predict, but I expect we will see more demonstrations in the coming days. The government will likely keep a close eye on these gatherings to prevent any escalations. The situation in Gaza remains a potent catalyst for mobilization, and as long as the conflict persists, public discontent in Egypt might also grow.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Hassan. It’s certainly a complex and evolving situation.
**Dr. Hassan:** Thank you. It’s important we continue to monitor these developments closely.
