Arab world condemns Egypt church bombings

By Ali Abo Rezeg

ANKARA (AA) – Arab countries Sunday issued condemnations of two church bombings in Egypt which left scores of civilians killed and injured.

Saudi Arabia “firmly condemned” the two bombings, calling them “cowardly terrorist acts,” the official Saudi News Agency quoted a source at the Foreign Ministry as saying.

"These acts are contrary to religious principles and against all moral and humanitarian values," he said, adding that “we extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the Arab Republic of Egypt."

Qatar also expressed its "strong condemnation" of the bombings, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The ministry reiterated that “Qatar firmly opposes and rejects violence and terrorism regardless of its motives or reasons.”

"We express our condolences to the families of the victims and to the Egyptian people, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery."

- Jordan and Bahrain

The kingdoms of Jordan and Bahrain also condemned the bombings.

King Abdullah II of Jordan sent a cable to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressing his "strong condemnation of this cowardly act," according to a statement released by the Royal Court.

Abdullah also affirmed his country's solidarity with Egypt in its efforts to fight terrorism and maintain the country’s security and stability.

For its part, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry confirmed "Bahrain's solidarity with Egypt in the face of terrorism in all its forms," according to a statement released by the ministry.

"We fully support all measures taken by Cairo to maintain its security and stability," the statement read.

"This criminal act will never succeed in undermining the unity and steadfastness of Egyptian society," it added, stressing that "the brotherly Egyptian people has been and will remain able to stay united to defeat terrorism and eliminate it totally.”

- Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the bombings and expressed "the Palestinian people’s solidarity with the Egyptian people, their leadership, and their army against the blind terror targeting Egypt and its prominent role in the region."

Abbas, according to the Palestinian news agency (WAFA), expressed his condolences to “Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, his people, his government, and the Coptic Pope Tawadros II and the families of victims which fell in these incidents.”

Palestinian group Hamas also condemned the church bombings, describing them as "a crime that targeted houses of worship, and killed and injured scores of innocent civilians."

“We wish for Egypt and its people full security and stability," the group said in a statement.

At least 40 people were killed and scores injured in two church bombings in Egypt claimed by the Daesh terrorist group as worshippers were marking Palm Sunday.

An explosion struck inside St. George Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, killing at least 27 people and injuring scores, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Hours later, 13 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a security checkpoint outside St. Mark’s Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria.