Context

The Egyptian prosecutor's office arrested President Mohammed Morsi, who was overthrown in early July, for 15 days for contacts with the Palestinian Hamas movement. Although many countries recognize this movement as terrorist, Mohammed Morsi actively tried to legitimize it during his presidency. Prosecutors will question the former head of state about Hamas' involvement in his prison escape in early 2011, shortly before the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, when the movement staged a series of attacks on police stations and prisons. At the same time, Mohamed Morsi is being investigated on suspicion of treason and corruption.

The Palestinian movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, condemned the arrest of the ex-president, and the Egyptian army, meanwhile, launched a large-scale Operation Desert Storm against Hamas and other extremist organizations in the Sinai Peninsula. It involves two armies, as well as air force and navy forces, its main goal is to block terrorists in the desert and mountainous areas. According to Egyptian security officials, there are about 500 armed militants in the North Sinai province who can use the population as human shields. The situation on the peninsula, where Hamas has long operated, worsened sharply after the overthrow of Mohammed Morsi, when many of his radical Islamist supporters retreated to Sinai under pressure from the military.

Maria Efimova

The ex-president received 15 days