Dozens of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and opposition MPs staged a demonstration in front of the People's Assembly [Egypt's lower chamber of Parliament] to protest against the strikes on Gaza. They also sent a delegation to the presidential headquarters to hand a list of requests to the Presidency's representative and, through him, to President Mubarak. In this list, the MPs called for the blockade to be lifted from the Gaza Strip and aid to be allowed into the area. A joint committee formed by the Foreign Affairs, Arab Affairs and Defense and National Security committees of the People's Assembly issued a statement yesterday condemning the grave escalation by the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. The statement describes the latest events as "the latest nail in peace's coffin" and calls on the Security Council to open an international investigation into the crime and to refer those responsible to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as war criminals. The committee witnessed rows and exchange of insults among the MPs. The government was even accused of working as an agent for Israel and America. National Democratic Party (NDP) MP Mohamed Abdel Fattah Omar accused the MB of trying to sabotage and divide Egypt as happened in Palestine. Independent MP Gamal Zahran described Egypt as an agent and wondered what the secret was of the country's ties with Israel and America. MP Ashraf Badr demanded the dismissal of the Foreign Minister, saying he does not express the Egyptians' opinion. He also stressed that Egypt must halt its supply of gas and other products to Israel. The Minister for Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils Mufid Shehab renewed the Egyptian government's rejection of the extermination taking place in Gaza.
