Rafah Closed: Egypt’s Calculated Response to Transnational Mobilisation

Overview

In the week commencing 10 June 2025, the Egyptian government took decisive steps to prevent a large-scale international protest movement from reaching the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. Branded as the Global March to Gaza, the campaign aimed to draw international attention to the humanitarian crisis inside the Strip. Egypt, citing national security concerns and the need for coordination, acted swiftly to detain and deport hundreds of participants, effectively halting the initiative before it reached North Sinai.

This episode illustrates Egypt’s enduring role as a stabilising force in the Gaza conflict, but also underscores the complex balancing act Cairo faces between maintaining domestic control, safeguarding its strategic interests, and responding to international humanitarian pressures.

Key Developments

  • International Mobilisation Blocked: Over 2,000 activists from more than 80 countries had planned to march from Cairo to Rafah. Egypt disrupted these plans by detaining over 200 individuals, deporting at least 73 (primarily to Turkey and European destinations), and blocking access routes into North Sinai.
  • Security and Political Calculations:
    • Egyptian authorities cited concerns over uncoordinated activity near a sensitive border zone where Islamist militancy remains active.
    • The government demanded prior authorisation via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, a requirement not met by the march organisers.
  • Israeli and International Pressure:
    • Israeli officials reportedly engaged with their Egyptian counterparts, expressing concern that the march could escalate tensions or serve as cover for radical elements.
    • Quiet consultations with U.S. security officials further reinforced Egypt’s decision to act pre-emptively.

Analysis

Egypt’s decision to suppress the Global March to Gaza is rooted in both security imperatives and regional diplomacy. Three drivers are key:

1. Stability in North Sinai

Egypt continues to prioritise control over the Sinai Peninsula, where remnants of ISIS-linked groups remain active. The arrival of thousands of international protesters—many of whom were undocumented or unauthorised—posed a risk of disruption in an already fragile region.

2. Regional Positioning

Egypt has long positioned itself as the principal interlocutor between Hamas and the international community. By blocking the march, Cairo signals to Israel, the United States, and Gulf states that it remains a reliable partner in managing the Gaza situation while retaining control over the humanitarian narrative.

3. Domestic Considerations

Public solidarity with Palestinians remains high in Egypt. However, the regime fears that large-scale mobilisation—especially when triggered by foreign actors—could reignite civil unrest or create openings for opposition groups to exploit.


Read The Report Here

Read more

WBII Statement on the Suspension of UK-Israel Trade Talks and David Lammy’s Remarks

We note with deep concern the UK Government’s decision to pause trade talks with Israel on its updated free trade agreement. We are equally troubled by calls from the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, to suspend or terminate the UK-Israel trade deal altogether.

This is a moment that demands principle, not posturing.

The United Kingdom is now signalling that it is willing to penalise its closest democratic ally in the Middle East—not for acts of aggression, but for exercising its legal and moral right to self-defence in the wake of the Hamas-led atrocities of 7 October. Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, including in Rafah, are a direct response to those attacks and to the continued captivity of Israeli hostages, including women, children, and foreign nationals.

Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Israel is entitled to defend its citizens and territory from armed attacks. Its actions fall within the scope of international humanitarian law, which recognises the distinction between civilian and military targets—something Hamas continues to flagrantly violate by embedding its fighters and weaponry in civilian infrastructure.

To suggest that Israel should be economically isolated while it combats a proscribed terrorist organisation—one that remains committed to the annihilation of Jews and the destruction of the only Jewish state—is not diplomacy. It is appeasement.

Britain does not apply this standard elsewhere. It trades freely with authoritarian regimes and states engaged in far more egregious human rights abuses than Israel, including those with documented records of repression, occupation, and aggression. The current government continues to pursue trade with China, Saudi Arabia, and other states where the principles of democracy and accountability are not only absent, but actively suppressed.

Why then is Israel—a pluralistic, democratic nation defending itself against terrorism—singled out for economic censure?

This is not a principled stand. It is a politically convenient one, driven by external pressure and performative outrage, not legal reasoning or strategic coherence.

The UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement is not just a commercial instrument—it is a strategic declaration of shared values. Israel is a world leader in cybersecurity, biotechnology, clean energy, AI, and medical innovation. Bilateral trade exceeded £7 billion in 2022, supporting jobs, research, and technological advancement on both sides.

To suspend or terminate trade talks in response to Israel’s lawful military operations is to risk crippling a vital partnership, emboldening terrorist propaganda, and sending a message that the UK will not stand by its allies in times of crisis.

What’s Really at Stake

This is not about trade alone. This is about the future of the rules-based international order. If democratic states are penalised for defending themselves against terrorism—while non-state actors are shielded by ambiguity and moral relativism—we risk a world in which terror pays, and restraint is punished.

We urge both the UK Government and the Opposition to reconsider this course of action. Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation under British law. Israel is a lawful democratic partner. This distinction matters.



Read more

WBII Statement on Yuval Raphael and Eurovision 2025

 

We Believe in Israel (WBII) warmly congratulates Yuval Raphael on her extraordinary achievement at Eurovision 2025 — placing second overall and winning first place in the public vote across Europe and beyond.

In a year marked by unprecedented hostility, smears, and organised efforts to silence Israel’s voice on the global stage, Yuval stood firm — with grace, strength, and unshakable dignity. She was not only a singer representing her country, but a symbol of resilience, a young woman carrying on her shoulders the burden of her people’s pain, pride, and perseverance.

That she triumphed in the hearts of the public is no small thing. The people voted for hope. They voted for beauty over boycott, courage over cowardice, and light over the darkness of hate.

In recent months, artists have been pressured, broadcasters have faltered, and campaigners have worked tirelessly to push Israel out of international cultural spaces. Yuval faced it all — with composure and an unwavering sense of purpose. Her performance was a victory not only for Israel, but for every believer in fairness, decency, and the unifying power of art.

We are deeply proud of Yuval, and of every supporter who stood with her, who voted for her, who refused to bow to the politics of exclusion.

This moment was about more than music. It was about visibility. About being seen, heard, and humanised in a time when so many have sought to erase, distort, or vilify.

Yuval reminded the world that Israel is not just a headline — it is people. It is courage. It is song.

We Believe in Israel celebrates this profound moment of public solidarity. And we remain committed to defending the right of Israelis — and of Jews everywhere — to take part, to be proud, and to be free.

Thank you, Yuval. You have made us all stand a little taller.



Read more

WBII Statement on Gary Lineker’s Amplification of Antisemitic Content

We Believe in Israel (WBII) is outraged by the disgraceful decision of BBC presenter Gary Lineker to share a grotesquely antisemitic post, originally published by The Palestine Lobby, to his 1.2 million Instagram followers. The post was titled “Zionism explained in less than 2 mins” and was accompanied by a rat emoji — a symbol deliberately weaponised by the Nazis to portray Jews as vermin, paving the way for their extermination.

This is not a misunderstanding. This is not a slip of the finger. It is the calculated amplification of a piece of content that draws on the oldest and ugliest tropes of antisemitic hate — and it came from a man who has already demonstrated a consistent pattern of targeting Zionism and Israel through veiled and not-so-veiled commentary.

Gary Lineker is not just any public figure. He is a senior presenter at the BBC, an institution that claims to uphold the highest standards of impartiality and public trust. His platform carries weight. His actions shape discourse. And yet, time and again, he has used his visibility to engage in behaviour that blurs the line between political criticism and racial incitement.

The attempt to excuse this latest episode with the claim that Mr Lineker “didn’t see” the rat emoji is not only pathetic — it is insulting to the intelligence of the public and offensive to every Jewish person who recognises this imagery for what it is: a dehumanising assault on Jewish identity, particularly through the demonisation of Zionism, the self-determination movement of the Jewish people.

His actions violate the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines, which require public figures associated with the broadcaster to refrain from disseminating content that could “bring the BBC into disrepute” or promote hate. Moreover, his conduct may breach Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, which prohibits the use of public communications networks to share “grossly offensive” content, and the Equality Act 2010, which protects religious communities from discrimination and harassment.

WBII demands the following, without delay:

  1. Immediate disciplinary action from the BBC, including removal from any upcoming public-facing programming.
  2. A public and unequivocal apology from Mr Lineker for his amplification of antisemitic imagery.
  3. Formal investigation by Ofcom into the BBC’s enforcement of impartiality and anti-discrimination standards.
  4. Referral to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to assess whether Lineker’s behaviour constitutes a criminal offence under UK law.
  5. Mandatory antisemitism awareness training for all BBC talent and executives, based on the IHRA definition, with particular focus on contemporary manifestations of antisemitism disguised as anti-Zionism.

Enough is enough.

This is not an isolated lapse. This is a pattern. Mr Lineker’s persistent targeting of Jewish national identity — while hiding behind the pretence of political expression — emboldens extremists, normalises antisemitism, and undermines the very principles the BBC claims to defend.

There is no room for equivocation. A man who cannot distinguish between advocacy and hate speech has no business representing a publicly funded institution.

We Believe in Israel stands with the Jewish community and every citizen who believes in decency, accountability, and truth. The time for apologies is over. The time for consequences is now.



Read more

WBII Statement: On the Dangerous Calls to End Trade with Israel

 

 

We Believe in Israel (WBII) unequivocally condemns the deeply misguided and politically motivated calls to suspend or sever trade relations with the State of Israel. These calls, spearheaded by ideologically extreme groups such as the BDS movement and Palestine Action, represent not only a betrayal of the UK’s values and strategic interests, but a morally incoherent attack on one of our closest democratic allies.

At a time when Israel faces existential threats from Iran and its terror proxies — Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north — it is profoundly shameful that activists and politicians would seek to economically isolate the only Jewish state in the world. Such measures do nothing to advance peace or human rights. Instead, they embolden those who traffic in hatred, support terrorism, and reject the very existence of Israel.

Let us be clear:
To call for an end to trade with Israel — a liberal democracy, a leader in technology, science, and security cooperation — is to reward Hamas and Hezbollah for their campaign of violence and terror. It is to punish the victim, not the aggressor.

The hypocrisy is staggering. These same voices are silent on Chinese repression of Uyghurs, on Russian aggression in Ukraine, on Iranian execution of protesters. Only the Jewish state is singled out. That is not diplomacy. That is discrimination.

The United Kingdom’s trade partnership with Israel is not merely about goods and services; it is a bond rooted in shared democratic values, a commitment to innovation, and the mutual pursuit of peace and prosperity. Over 400 Israeli companies operate in the UK, contributing to our economy, enhancing our security, and fostering academic and scientific collaboration. Ending that relationship would be a self-inflicted wound.

We call on the UK Government, all mainstream political parties, and civic institutions to reject these calls for economic warfare against Israel. Silence in the face of this campaign of demonisation is complicity.

We stand with Israel. We stand for truth, justice, and peace. And we urge all who value democracy and decency to do the same.

Read more

Statement on Cross-Party Calls for Unilateral Recognition of a Palestinian State

 

We express deep concern over recent appeals by members of both the Conservative and Labour parties urging the UK government to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. While the pursuit of a lasting peace in the Middle East is a noble objective, such recognition, absent a comprehensive peace agreement, risks undermining the UK's longstanding commitment to a negotiated two-state solution.

Premature recognition may inadvertently legitimise entities that have not unequivocally renounced violence or recognised the State of Israel's right to exist. This could embolden extremist factions and compromise the security of both Israelis and Palestinians. Furthermore, we urge the UK government to remain vigilant against domestic groups that propagate extremist ideologies and threaten national security.

The recent proscription of organisations like Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain and the Terrorgram collective underscores the importance of addressing such threats decisively. In navigating the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics, the UK must prioritise actions that foster genuine dialogue and mutual recognition between parties, while ensuring that its domestic policies reflect a zero-tolerance stance toward extremism in all its forms.

Read more

A Call to Stand with Yuval Raphael at Eurovision

 

In a time when voices of reason are drowned by slogans, and art is hijacked by ideology, we are witnessing yet another distortion of moral clarity—this time on the grand stage of culture.

Yuval Raphael, Israel’s brave and brilliant representative at this year’s Eurovision, stands not just as a singer, but as a symbol. A symbol of resilience. Of creativity under siege. Of light in an age of selective outrage.

And yet—while rockets fall and hostages remain hidden—some in Britain and across Europe demand the recognition of a Palestinian state, not through peace but through appeasement. At that same moment, Yuval is being targeted, boycotted, and vilified for daring to raise her voice—for daring to stand on a stage and sing not in defiance, but in dignity.

This is not just about Eurovision. It is about the soul of public life. It is about whether we reward terror or celebrate courage. Whether we stand with those who build bridges or with those who burn them.

Let us be very clear: what Yuval faces is not criticism. It is political theatre that punishes a young artist for the crime of representing her country. It is cowardice masquerading as conscience. It is delusion passed off as diplomacy.

We cannot allow this.

So we say—to the organisers, to the audience, and to the world:
Yuval sings not just for Israel.
She sings for truth.
For courage.
For beauty that refuses to be silenced.

And we, her supporters, must rise to meet this moment. We call on you:

🟦 Stand with Yuval.
🟨 Celebrate her courage.
🟦 Reject the cultural censorship dressed up as activism.
🟨 Make your voices louder than the boycotts.

Bring your flags. Bring your pride. Bring your defiance in the face of those who would rather see silence than song.

Yuval is not alone. And neither are we.

Let Europe see that Israel is not a pariah but a beacon. Let Eurovision remember that music is meant to unite, not divide. And let every performer know that no artist should ever have to sing through fear.

This Saturday, make your voice heard.

Vote Yuval. Stand with Israel. Sing for truth.

Read more

We Believe in Israel Statement on the Cancellation of Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa’s UK Concerts

 

We Believe in Israel strongly condemns the cowardly and disgraceful campaign of intimidation that has led to the cancellation of Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa’s concerts in London and Bristol. That a collaborative musical project — one rooted in cultural exchange and Middle Eastern unity — should fall victim to such bullying is a damning indictment of the toxic, censorious environment being cultivated by pro-Palestinian activist networks in Britain.

These were not political rallies. They were concerts. Artistic collaborations that brought together voices from across the Arab world — Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and Israel — in a genuine effort to bridge divides. That is precisely what the boycotters fear: coexistence, harmony, and Jewish participation in shared spaces.

The organisations behind this pressure campaign, including PACBI, have openly celebrated the cancellations, branding the performances “artwashing.” Let us be clear: this is not anti-Zionism. This is cultural antisemitism masquerading as activism. It is an attempt to disappear Jews from public and artistic life — to deny Israelis their right to perform, to be heard, and ultimately to exist in the public square.

The fact that credible threats were made against the venues and their staff should shame us all. What kind of civil society allows artists to be silenced under the threat of violence? How have we reached a point in Britain where musicians must cancel performances not because of lack of interest, but because they are Jewish or have dared to collaborate with Israelis?

Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa said it best: “Forcing musicians not to perform — and denying people who want to hear them an opportunity to do so — is self-evidently a method of censorship and silencing.” We agree. And it is a method rooted in fear, fanaticism, and a deep contempt for freedom.

We Believe in Israel calls on political leaders, cultural institutions, and civil society to stand up against this creeping extremism. Today it is musicians. Tomorrow it will be academics, artists, and ordinary citizens whose only crime is being Israeli — or Jewish.

Silencing Jewish voices is not justice. It is hatred. And it must be resisted.

Read more

We Believe in Israel (WBII) Statement on Houthi Missile Strike on Ben Gurion Airport

 

 

The missile attack launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia on Ben Gurion International Airport—Israel’s principal civilian gateway to the world—constitutes a brazen act of terrorism and war. This was not a symbolic strike. This was a direct assault on innocent civilians, global travel infrastructure, and the very notion that the Jewish state should be allowed to exist in safety and peace.

Let us be clear: this was not a failure of Israeli defence. This was a failure of the international community to treat Iran and its terror proxies as the transnational threats they are. The fact that a missile—believed to be hypersonic—evaded interception and landed near Terminal 3, injuring six people, is an indictment of every Western government that has normalised Tehran’s aggression while wringing their hands about Israel’s right to defend itself.

For years, Israel has warned that the axis of Iranian terror—Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen—does not stop at its borders. That axis is now projecting force deep into the heart of Israel, into its commercial air hub, attempting to hold Israeli civilians hostage to a campaign of annihilation. Had this missile landed a few dozen metres in another direction, we could be counting the dead.

What will it take for the world to wake up?

Where is the UN condemnation? Where is the European outrage? The same officials who lecture Israel on “proportionality” are deafeningly silent as a UN-recognised airport is targeted in what amounts to an attempted mass casualty attack.

Enough is enough.

We Believe in Israel calls on the British government and all democratic allies to:

  • Designate the Houthis a terrorist organisation immediately.

  • Hold Iran accountable under international law for directing and arming this attack.

  • End all appeasement policies toward the Islamic Republic and its proxies.

  • Support Israel's full right to retaliate against any and all actors involved in this atrocity.

The world must understand that Israel is not simply under attack—it is being encircled by a ring of Iranian-backed death squads. And yet, it continues to stand.

We will not be silent. We will not normalise terror. And we will never accept a world order in which Jewish lives are cheapened by cowardice, equivocation, or indifference.

Read more

WBII Statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day

 

Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, We Believe in Israel pauses to honour the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Shoah, alongside millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. We remember the children and the elders, the scholars and the workers, the communities that were erased, and the worlds that were shattered. Their names are our charge. Their memory is our mandate.

The Holocaust was not only a crime against the Jewish people, but against the very notion of civilisation itself. It revealed the catastrophic consequences of unchecked antisemitism, state-sponsored hatred, and the silence of too many. The lessons of that abyss are not confined to the past. They live with us today, calling us to vigilance, to education, and to action.

As antisemitism once again rears its head across Europe and beyond—in our streets, in our universities, even in our parliaments—this day must not become a ritual of remembrance only, but a summons to moral clarity. The slogans may change, but the hatred wears a familiar face.

We Believe in Israel stands in steadfast solidarity with the Jewish people in Britain, in Israel, and across the world. We reaffirm our commitment to Holocaust education, to challenging distortion and denial, and to ensuring that the horrors of the past are never repeated. The State of Israel, born in the ashes of Auschwitz, remains a beacon of Jewish survival, sovereignty, and resilience. To defend Israel’s legitimacy is not separate from Holocaust remembrance—it is part of its enduring legacy.

We urge all individuals, institutions, and communities to mark this day with dignity, and to speak with one voice against antisemitism in all its forms. Silence is never neutral. Memory must be active.

Today, we remember. Tomorrow, we act.

We Remember. We Believe. We Stand.

 

Read more