Egyptian presidential candidate and former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei has said that, if elected, he would fight back against an Israeli offensive in Gaza, Ynet News reports.

In an interview with an Arab newspaper Monday, ElBaradei emphasized his determination to protect Palestinians in Gaza, stating that any Israeli military attacks would result in a declaration of war from Egypt.

"If Israel attacked Gaza we would declare war against the Zionist regime," ElBaradei told Al-Watan, according to YNet. "In case of any future Israeli attack on Gaza - as the next president of Egypt - I will open the Rafah border crossing and will consider different ways to implement the joint Arab defense agreement."

ElBaradei also expressed concern over Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, saying that "there has been no tangible breakthrough reconciliation process because of the imbalance of power in the region - a situation that creates a kind of one way peace."

While it is not certain ElBaradei can win the election, it is likely that Egypt's next president will take a similarly hardline stance toward Israel. ElBaradei's main opponent, Arab League Secretary General and former Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, has voiced disapproval with Egypt's policies toward Israel under former president Hosni Mubarak.