Watan-The Egyptian Military Academy deleted the photos it posted through its Facebook account and other army platforms, which included explanations about Israeli Merkava tanks in front of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
This came after the photos sparked wide controversy and condemnation on social media platforms in the past few days.
Some interpreted the deletion of the photos as a message from Cairo so that Israel does not understand their publication as a threat, especially as the current period witnesses significant tensions due to the possibility of Israel invading the city of Rafah, posing a threat to Egyptian security as authorities there have stated.
فيديو
الجيش المصري يستعرض نقاط ضعف دبابة الميركافا الصهيونية بحضور السيسي pic.twitter.com/ubpDkzAtGl— Mahmoud 🦷 (@Mahmoud20738) April 27, 2024
Details of the Merkava photos story
The Military Academy had posted photos of Sisi‘s visit, which included shots of a session where members of the army received a lecture about the Israeli Merkava tank.
During the visit, Sisi discussed with the academy’s students and listened to their opinions, according to Egyptian media.
Wide reaction
The photos sparked a reaction, with some saying they carry a message in their timing, amidst talk of the occupation’s readiness to invade Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip managed with modest capabilities to neutralize hundreds of Israeli vehicles penetrating into the Gaza Strip, including dozens of Merkava tanks.
The photos also sparked outrage in Hebrew media outlets, especially coming from Egypt, which signed the Camp David Accords, and hints at Egyptian anger due to the escalation of threats of invasion of Rafah by the occupation.
Also, Sisi’s visit to the location and his tour there omitted the screen shots that showed the occupation tank, and only Sisi appeared during his speech to the soldiers and officers.
Meaning of Merkava in Hebrew
The tank “Merkava” means “combat vehicle” in Hebrew, and this name was chosen to indicate that it was designed to combine several characteristics.
It is not limited to being just a tank, but it is characterized by specifications that make it one of the most fortified tanks in the world and the most powerful on the battlefield.