Egyptians divided over policeman killing Israeli tourists in Alexandria

A shooting incident that claimed the lives of two Israeli tourists in Egypt's Alexandria city has sparked mixed reactions among Egyptian activists and public figures over the past 24 hours.

A low-ranking Egyptian police officer opened fire at an Israeli group of tourists visiting an ancient Roman site known as Pompey's Pillar in the Egyptian Mediterranean city on Monday, also moderately injuring an Israeli tourist and killing a local tour guide, news outlets reported citing the country's interior ministry.

The shooting occurred two days after the Palestinian Hamas faction launched a wide-scale offensive against Israel, killing hundreds. 

While many Egyptians considered the Israeli citizens killed during the shooting as civilian victims, many others viewed them as citizens of an enemy state who should be fought all the way.

Award-winning human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Masry slammed the presence of Israeli tourism in the country in a post she shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Criminal Zionists are not welcome in Egypt…the peace treaty is [nonsense]," Masry wrote.

Horrific news from Alexandria, a policeman opens fire at Israeli tourists killing 2 Israelis and an Egyptian at a tourist site. This policeman's job was to protect NOT kill peaceful tourists visiting z country. This is z result of ignorance and incitement to hatred and violence..

— shahiraamin13 (@sherryamin13) October 8, 2023

Popular Satirist at Al-Araby TV Youssef Hussein, nicknamed Joe, posted a video on X, in which he said: "'m not saying this is right or wrong or should have happened or not. I'm posting this video, fearing for the country's tourism sector. Don't fool us by saying we have a peace treaty [that] Egyptians don't recognise. We haven't even chosen the regime that [signed] the deal. We woke up to find ourselves in a state of peace."

Joe further said Egyptians "can easily be provoked seeing them holding the Israeli flag."

According to Joe, since 1948, all Israelis who visit Egypt are known to have been recruited in the army or are reserve soldiers or officers who may have killed Arabs at any given time.

"Nobody wants you… Don't come to Egypt. We have had enough of you," Joe concluded.

Other public figures and activists, however, beg to differ.

The killing of the 2 Israeli tourists and an Egyptian - probably the tour guide - in Alexandria Egypt is a heinous crime. This account of a popular dissident is gloating and glorifying the crime…while residing in Europe (France if I’m not mistaken) https://t.co/ZSZi2IXgas

— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) October 8, 2023

Unconfirmed reports said following the shooting incident that the tourists held the Israeli flag and insisted on taking pictures while holding it. When the shooter asked them frequently to put it down, they refused, which led him to burst into anger and open fire at them randomly.

The Egyptian policeman was arrested as the site was cordoned off. Yet, videos of the incident's aftermath, probably taken by ordinary citizens, have gone viral in minutes, showing the victims' bodies and their family members in shock.

The New Arab refrained from publishing a video of the incident due to its graphic content.

The shooting occurred two days after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise, unprecedented attack on Israel, killing and injuring hundreds.

In June this year, an Egyptian police conscript serving along the Egyptian border with Israel killed three Israeli soldiers after he entered Israel's territories and was killed during an exchange of fire.

Meanwhile, the US embassy posted on X, addressing American citizens in Egypt, asking them to maintain caution for the attack targeting "foreign tourists" in Alexandria "may be related to the hostilities in Gaza and Israel."

Message to U.S. citizens: The Embassy is aware of reports of multiple foreign tourists killed in an attack in Alexandria, Egypt today, Oct 8, 2023. This incident may be related to ongoing hostilities in Gaza and Israel. U.S. citizens in Egypt should exercise increased security…

— U.S. Embassy Cairo (@USEmbassyCairo) October 8, 2023

Despite a technical state of peace with Israel since the late 1970s, the Egyptian public has been at loggerheads with their country's successive regimes over normalisation.

Diplomatically and commercially, the regime has been treating the self-proclaimed Jewish state as a friendly country with strong ties in several areas.

However, in 2017, the Egyptian parliament, known for being loyal to Sisi, sacked MP Tawfik Okasha for hosting the Israeli ambassador at his home over dinner.

One year earlier, controversial English literature professor Mona Prince was also fired from Suez University for attempting to engage in cultural activities with the Israeli embassy after her photo with the Israeli ambassador had angered social media activists.