‘Egyptian Killed, Israeli Tourists Wounded in Hotel Fight’

AFP/APP

Cairo: An Egyptian worker was killed Friday during a hotel altercation that also left three Arab-Israeli tourists and other workers injured in the Egyptian seaside town of Taba, a medical source informed AFP.

The worker succumbed to his injuries “in an ambulance transporting him from Taba,” located on the border with Israel, to Sharm al-Sheikh, 200 kilometers south, according to the source, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the media.

Three other workers and three “Arab 48” tourists were also wounded, state-linked Egyptian media Al-Qahera News reported. “Arab 48” is a term used to refer to Palestinians and their descendants who remained in Israel after its creation in 1948.

The altercation reportedly began when hotel staff and the tourists clashed after the tourists “attempted to obtain services from the hotel without charge,” according to Al-Qahera News. The channel, which is connected to state intelligence, also reported that security authorities are investigating the incident.

A high-level security source denied Israeli media reports that characterized the altercation as a “stabbing operation.”

The incident took place in Taba, a South Sinai town on the Egyptian border, popular with Israeli tourists.

Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, has for decades played a key role as a mediator between Israeli and Palestinian officials, including during the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.