Egypt again blocks off Gaza - and Abbas praises it!

It is not fashionable for Westerners to say that Gaza is a source of terrorism.

But Egyptians say it all the time.

Egypt closed the Rafah crossing to Gaza on Saturday morning, It is reported that the closure will last "indefinitely."

Egypt was also reported to be creating a huge buffer zone - between 1.5 and 3 kilometers - from the border with Gaza in order to stop any smuggling of weapons to and from Gaza.

President Sisi said in a speech that "new procedures will be initiated on the border with the Gaza Strip in the face of terrorism."

Now, this means that Egypt will once again be enforcing a blockade on Gaza. People will not be able to leave Gaza for medical, educational or professional reasons. This is what would be characterized as "collective punishment" if done by Israel..

Egypt, by any yardstick, is treating Palestinians in Gaza worse than Israel is. Israel has not closed the Erez crossings and hundred of truckloads of materials go to Gaza every weekday from Israel.

But how does Mahmoud Abbas respond to Egypt's latest moves to enforce a crippling siege on Gaza?

He supports them!

After Sisi's speech, Abbas said "We stand by Egypt's leadership, government and people, and we support all measures to be taken by the Egyptian leadership in order to maintain security and stability in Egypt in the face of terrorism in the Sinai and all the Egyptian territories, because of the service of the Palestinian cause and the Arab national security."

Abbas praised the Egyptian position as being "courageous in the face of terrorism," saying he has great confidence that Egypt will overcome the enemy.

How's that for hypocrisy?