Middle East Eye published an article by Palestinian academic Adnan Abu Amer on the relationship between former president Mohamed Morsi and Palestine.

Abu Amer said that during his short stay in office, Mohamed Morsi worked to stop the Israeli attacks and lift the siege on Gaza. He said that whilst many people were shocked to hear the news of his sudden death, it seemed as though the Palestinians had lost a leader who paid them attention and helped them alot.

The writer said that the Palestinians in Gaza feel that Morsi paid the price because of his political and moral positions in support of them, despite his presidency lasting less than a year, and feel that they owe him; to call for lifting the unjust Israeli siege on them, and his words were not words: Morsi had ordered the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing, the gate of the Palestinians of Gaza to the world, permanently.

Abu Amer points out that during the Morsi presidency, the Israeli siege was relaxed and many were able to travel through Rafah unhindered.

The writer notes that Morsi’s support did not end there. During his presidency, trade between Gaza and Egypt increased after years of rejection and prevention.

According to Abu Amer, in the context of the repeated Israeli wars on Gaza, the Palestinians compared the Egyptian official position in 2008 under Hosni Mubarak, 2012 under Morsi, and 2014 under the current President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. The results were difficult, bitter and painful.

“The Palestinians still remember how Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni declared war on Gaza during her visit to Cairo in 2008, and shortly afterwards bombs fell on Gaza, and thousands of people were killed and wounded over three weeks. Egypt failed to take a firm stance against these crimes.”

Abu Amer pointed out that during the 2014 war in Gaza, the Egyptian intervention intensified the war, which continued for more than 50 days. Al-Sisi, who wanted to punish Hamas, did not agree to a ceasefire until Palestinian armed factions agreed to the Israeli demands.

Abu Amer says that for these reasons, the Palestinians believe that while Morsi was able to stop the Israeli war on the ground, another secret war was launched to overthrow him.

The former president, Mohamed Morsi, died while attending his trial in connection with the Palestinian Hamas movement.