Iftar Banquet with No Food in Egypt’s Al-Arish to Show Solidarity with Gaza
(Arab World Press) - On Friday, the Egyptian Tribes and Families Council held an eight-kilometer-long iftar (fast-breaking) banquet along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the city of Al-Arish, North Sinai governorate, under the motto ‘A Story of Good.’
Mohamed Dirgham, head of the economic committee at the council and the general coordinator of the initiative, said that 100,000 iftar meals had been sent to Gaza as part of Egypt’s role in supporting the Palestinian cause.
“The meals have been cooked, packed and delivered to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to deliver to Gaza,” he added.
He noted that the banquet held in Al-Arish included only water, juice and dates, while the meals had been sent to the enclave as part of ‘Our People Above Us’ initiative.
“We are receiving people at an iftar banquet, but there is no food on the table. There are only dates, water, milk and juice. This is to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers in Gaza,” said Mahmoud Al-Kashif, coordinator of Egyptian businessman Mohamed Dirgham’s campaign.
Ahmed Al-Shorbagy, a local resident of Al-Arish, said that the people were gathering not for the iftar itself, but rather to express solidarity with the people of Gaza.
“We came here to support them and pray for our brothers, the mujahideen (holy warriors) in Palestine. May God grant them victory and let their endeavors end well,” he added.
Khidr Abul-Fotou, a former director of the Al-Arish Education Department and a a guest at the banquet, said that all Egyptian people supported the Palestinians and prayed for them.
“This is a mass iftar banquet on the seashore in Al-Arish, North Sinai, Egypt. We greet the Palestinians and pray for their triumph and dignity. All Egyptians love the Palestinian people,” he noted.