Cairo – Egypt – 12 August 2025
In a forceful and unequivocal response to Israel’s escalating military operations in Gaza, Egypt has condemned a new Israeli plan to take full military control of the entire Gaza Strip, including a proposed “buffer zone” along the Egyptian border. The official stance from Cairo is that this move constitutes a grave threat to Egypt’s national security and represents a blatant violation of the 1979 peace treaty that has been the bedrock of relations between the two nations for decades.
In a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry, Egypt explicitly condemned Israel’s decision, saying it aims to “entrench the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, continue the genocidal war in Gaza, eliminate all aspects of Palestinian life, and undermine the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.” The statement described the decision as a “blatant and unacceptable violation of international law” and warned that Israel’s policy of “systematic killing, and genocide against the defenseless Palestinian people will only fuel the conflict, increase tensions, and deepen hatred and extremism in the region.”
The point of most contention is the so-called “Philadelphi Corridor,” a 14-kilometer-long buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has long expressed its ambition to retake control of this corridor, arguing that it is necessary to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza. Egypt has always rejected this claim, insisting that it has full sovereignty over its borders and has taken extensive measures to fortify them and destroy cross-border tunnels. Egyptian officials have warned that an Israeli military presence along this border would directly breach the security annexes of the peace treaty. In recent weeks, Egyptian media has reported an increase in Egyptian troop and heavy weapon deployments in the Sinai Peninsula, a move that analysts say is a clear message to Israel that Cairo is prepared to defend its borders.
The diplomatic spat between the two countries comes amid a deepening humanitarian catastrophe at the Rafah border crossing, the only gateway between Egypt and Gaza. The crossing has been largely closed for the past four months since the Israeli military took control of the Palestinian side, a move that Egypt refuses to acknowledge. Cairo has insisted that the crossing will remain closed on its side as long as the Israeli military maintains control, as this would be tantamount to normalizing the occupation. While Egyptian state media has reported the resumption of some aid trucks entering Gaza in recent days, this remains a fraction of what is needed, and the ongoing closure to people, especially those in need of medical evacuation, has created a choke point for humanitarian relief.
The situation has created a delicate balancing act for Egypt’s leadership. On one hand, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government is under intense domestic and international pressure to respond more forcefully to Israel’s actions and the humanitarian crisis. On the other, Egypt has an interest in maintaining the peace treaty with Israel and its significant economic ties. For instance, an Israeli company recently finalized a new $35 billion gas deal with Egypt, a sign that economic relations continue despite the political tensions.
Domestically, the Egyptian public and media have expressed outrage at Israel’s actions, with some commentators calling for a more direct response. However, the government has maintained its position, reiterating that a two-state solution is the only path to lasting security and stability. As the Israeli military continues to issue evacuation orders and push civilians toward the Egyptian border, the pressure on Cairo to prevent a mass influx of displaced Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula remains at an all-time high. Officials have repeatedly stated that any forced displacement would be considered a “red line,” but the lack of a clear response if that line is crossed has left many questioning how the region’s geopolitical landscape will evolve in the coming weeks.
