In a devastating incident that sent shockwaves through the city of Alexandria, Egypt, two Israeli tourists lost their lives on Sunday. The tragedy unfolded when a policeman on routine duty in the Manshiyah district opened fire indiscriminately at a group of Israeli tourists who were visiting Pompey’s Pillar, one of the city’s iconic Roman-era landmarks. Alongside the two Israeli fatalities, an Egyptian citizen was killed, and another was wounded during the attack.
Authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect responsible for the shooting, and the injured individuals were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention. This senseless act of violence has left both nations in mourning and shock.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the tragic loss of two of its citizens, who were visiting Alexandria with their tour guide at the time of the incident. A distressing video circulating online captured the aftermath of the attack, showing two lifeless bodies lying on the ground amidst a pool of blood, with two women crying out in Hebrew. Nearby, Egyptian police officers stood by, while a third man, who appeared to be wounded, sat next to one of the victims.
This unfortunate event is not the first instance where Egyptian police have opened fire on Israelis or faced attacks along the border between Egypt and Israel. Tragically, in June, an Egyptian policeman stationed at the border with Israel killed three Israeli soldiers before losing his own life in the incident.
The incident also serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region, as it comes on the heels of a period of heightened violence. In recent days, more than 300 Palestinians and 250 Israelis have lost their lives in the most severe outbreak of hostilities to date between the militant Palestinian group, Hamas, and Israel. Additionally, an unspecified number of Israelis have been taken hostage by Hamas following a surprise attack by its armed wing on Friday.
Reports suggest that civilians, including children and the elderly, are among those taken hostage, with distressing videos of some hostages being circulated on social media. In response, Israel has launched air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip, further escalating tensions and contributing to civilian casualties.
Egypt, which shares borders with both Israel and Gaza, has historically played a role in mediating truces to end hostilities between Israel and Hamas. However, the current situation has proven to be exceptionally challenging for Cairo’s peace efforts. Hamas has presented ambitious demands, including a freeze on Israel’s construction of new Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the release of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Meanwhile, Israel insists on exacting a heavy price from Hamas before entering into truce negotiations, creating further obstacles to the Egyptian mediation process.
The tragic attack in Alexandria underscores the urgency of addressing the root causes of conflict in the region, as well as the importance of finding peaceful resolutions to longstanding issues. It serves as a stark reminder of the toll that violence takes on innocent lives and the need for sustained international efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
