Egypt’s ‘Ifta’: Muslim Brotherhood Seeks to Spread Chaos Online

Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam speaks during the opening session of the Fatwa International Conference, attended by Arab Islamic clerics, in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 17, 2015. Khaled Desouki / AFP via Getty Images
Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam speaks during the opening session of the Fatwa International Conference, attended by Arab Islamic clerics, in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 17, 2015. Khaled Desouki / AFP via Getty Images
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Egypt’s ‘Ifta’: Muslim Brotherhood Seeks to Spread Chaos Online

Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam speaks during the opening session of the Fatwa International Conference, attended by Arab Islamic clerics, in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 17, 2015. Khaled Desouki / AFP via Getty Images
Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam speaks during the opening session of the Fatwa International Conference, attended by Arab Islamic clerics, in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 17, 2015. Khaled Desouki / AFP via Getty Images

The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) seeks to incite hatred and chaos in Egypt through electronic terrorism, said the country’s Dar al-Ifta on Friday.

It stressed that the group, which is classified as terrorist by Egyptian authorities, “is affiliated with foreign agendas hostile to the Egyptian state.”

It also indicated that “leaders of violent groups, mainly the MB, seek power and exploit the youth by adopting online rhetoric based on disinformation.”

According to al-Ifta, “MB elements work on producing and preparing fabricated media reports and programs that include falsified news about the internal conditions and state institutions, then promoting them online and via their satellite channels that broadcast from abroad.”

It hailed the security efforts made by the Interior Ministry in line with maintaining stability and security and stopping sabotage schemes and chaos.

Former President Mohamed Morsi, the MB affiliate, was deposed on July 3, 2013, following widespread popular protests against his one-year rule. He died during his trial on June 17.

Al-Ifta says that day made a difference in Egypt’s modern history as Egyptians became aware of some of the conspiracy leads against their country, attempts to affect its national security, and threats against national institutions.

On Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of six MB elements, who have planned to prepare fabricated media reports and programs on the situation in the country and spread rumors among Egyptians.

In a statement in this regard, Al-Ifta said the group has been stirring unrest, through its media arms abroad, and broadcasting lies to undermine the efforts of the Egyptian state institutions.

It called on Egyptians to join hands to protect the country’s resources and preserve the gains of economic and social development and state institutions.

It warned them against believing its rhetoric and responding by active participation in national entitlements.



Hamas Names Four Israeli Female Soldier Hostages to Be Freed in Second Swap

 Palestinians walk on the rubble of destroyed houses, after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians walk on the rubble of destroyed houses, after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP)
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Hamas Names Four Israeli Female Soldier Hostages to Be Freed in Second Swap

 Palestinians walk on the rubble of destroyed houses, after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians walk on the rubble of destroyed houses, after the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP)

Palestinian group Hamas announced the names on Friday of four Israeli women soldier hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the second swap under the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag would be released on Saturday, the group said.

The exchange, expected to begin on Saturday afternoon, follows the release on the ceasefire's first day last Sunday of three Israeli women and 90 Palestinian prisoners, the first such exchange for more than a year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the list had been received from the mediators. Israel's response would be presented later, it said in a statement.

Israeli media reported that the list of hostages slated for release was not in line with the original agreement, but it was not immediately clear whether this would have any impact on the planned exchange.

In the six-week first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, Israel has agreed to release 50 Palestinian prisoners for every female soldier released, officials have said. That suggests that 200 Palestinian prisoners would be released in return for the four.

The Hamas prisoners media office said it expected to get the names of 200 Palestinians to be freed on Saturday in the coming hours. It said the list was expected to include 120 prisoners serving life sentences and 80 prisoners with other lengthy sentences.

Since the release of the first three women on Sunday and the recovery of the body of an Israeli soldier missing for a decade, Israel says 94 Israelis and foreigners remain held in Gaza.

The ceasefire agreement, worked out after months of on-off negotiations brokered by Qatar and Egypt and backed by the United States, halted the fighting for the first time since a truce that lasted just a week in Nov. 2023.

In the first phase, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

In a subsequent phase, the two sides would negotiate the exchange of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, which lies largely in ruins after 15 months of fighting and Israeli bombardment.

Israel launched the war following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, when fighters killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health authorities there.

The release of the first three hostages last week brought an emotional response from Israelis. But the phased release has drawn protests from some Israelis who fear the deal will break down after women, children, elderly and ill hostages are freed in the first phase, condemning male hostages of military age whose fate is not to be resolved until later.

Others, including some in the government, feel the deal hands a victory to Hamas, which has reasserted its presence in Gaza despite vows of Israeli leaders to destroy it. Hardliners, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have demanded that Israel resume fighting at the end of the first phase.

Most of Hamas' top leadership and thousands of its fighters have been killed but the group's police have returned to the streets since the ceasefire.