Egyptian police used tear gas grenades and war ammunition against thousands of protesters gathered on the night of Sunday to Monday, in front of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Approximately 240 people were injured.
Official sources quoted by AFP announced that Egyptian security forces opened fire on thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
The protesters burned the Israeli flag, demanded severance of diplomatic relations with Israel and the expelling of the Israeli ambassador in Cairo.
Demonstrations took place just hours after the meeting between Egyptian officials and the representative of the Israeli Defense Ministry, the first meeting at this level after the resignation of former President Hosni Mubarak, February 11, forced to give up power by a broad social movement.
Official sources in Cairo have said that, ultimately, Egyptian security forces have restored order in the area.
Demonstrations in the weekend took place on “Nakba” (catastrophe) day, which marks Israel’s creation in 1948, an event that was followed by an exodus of thousands of Palestinians. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Another event that influenced the protests was the bombing of a holy Islamic tomb in northern Sinai, in the town of Sheik Zweid.