2 days ago
Egyptian Foreign Ministry official denies reports of attempted storming of embassy in Tripoli
An official source at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied the accuracy of reports claiming that protesters attempted to storm the Egyptian embassy building in Tripoli to demand the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
The Egyptian source has also clarified that the building is not currently affiliated with the Egyptian embassy in Libya, but is a vacant property that was previously used by the embassy over a decade ago. He confirmed that no Egyptian embassy staff are currently present in that building.
In exclusive remarks to Youm7, the source expressed confidence that Libyan authorities are providing the highest levels of security to ensure the safety of the Egyptian diplomatic mission and its members in Libya, allowing them to carry out their work normally.
Protesters gathered outside the Egyptian embassy building in the capital, Tripoli, calling for the opening of the Rafah border crossing and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Photos circulated by activists showed a young man raising the Palestinian flag atop the embassy building before being arrested later.
Activists and the family of the young man, Ayham Al-Gharyani, called on the Government of National Unity and the Ministry of Interior to cooperate with them in revealing the fate of the young man, who was abducted in a civilian vehicle after entering the Egyptian embassy building and raising the Palestinian flag on top of it.
A statement from the "Nafir" protest movement said that the young man was abducted in an unmarked vehicle, beaten, and dragged before being forced into the car in front of security forces stationed at the scene, who did not intervene. The activists also announced the beginning of an open-ended sit-in outside the Egyptian embassy until the fate of Ayham Al-Gharyani is revealed.
