Egypt and Israel Tensions Escalate Amid Gaza Offensive
Cairo – relations between Egypt and Israel are increasingly strained as the conflict in gaza continues, with Egypt firmly rejecting any forced displacement of Palestinians into its territory and accusing israel of using a key energy agreement as a political weapon. The escalating tensions come despite ongoing security coordination between the two countries.
Egyptian authorities have consistently opposed the expulsion of Gazans to egypt, viewing it as a threat to the Palestinian aspiration for statehood and insisting Israel, as the occupying power, bears responsibility for the enclave’s wellbeing. Cairo prioritizes ending violence and protecting civilians over forced relocation. Egyptian officials also warn that relocating Palestinians to the Sinai Peninsula could jeopardize its national security, perhaps enabling attacks on Israel from Egyptian soil – providing a pretext for Israeli military action – and revitalizing extremist groups in the Sinai region, which Egypt has been working to suppress after a decade-long conflict with the local islamic State affiliate.
The dispute has extended to the economic sphere, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly threatening to freeze a important gas export agreement with Egypt, announced in August and valued at up to $35 billion (approximately €30 billion). Egyptian sources dismiss this as mere provocation, accusing Netanyahu of weaponizing the fuel supply.
Despite the deteriorating relations, both countries maintain strategic ties and security cooperation. The Israeli army recently intercepted at least three drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis in the Sinai Peninsula without comment from Egypt. Cairo continues to play a key role, alongside Qatar, in mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
In the initial months of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, Egypt allowed tens of thousands of Palestinians to enter the country, reportedly after they paid ample sums to intermediaries with close ties to Egyptian authorities. However,this influx ceased in mid-2024 following the Israeli army’s invasion and occupation of the Palestinian side of the Gaza-Egypt border.
