Osama bin Laden’s lieutenant censured Egypt for helping Israel blockade the Gaza Strip.
Ayman Zawahri, the Egyptian-born deputy head of al-Qaida, issued an audio message Wednesday about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
He noted that Egypt sealed off its border with the coastal territory since Hamas assumed control a year ago.
“A kinsman from Gaza is refused entry, while an Israeli tourist is allowed to come in without a visa,” said Zawahri, who has been in hiding for years since fleeing Egypt.
Zawahri called on Palestinians to escalate rocket salvos and other attacks on Israel, “as there is no solution but this.”
Al-Qaida recently stepped up its public statements in solidarity with the Palestinians, a move seen as designed to win over recruits in Gaza and the West Bank.
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