Egypt - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Egypt cover image

Egypt

August 4, 2025

Cairo 8:48 pm

31°C

TOPSHOT - A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in a school in the district of Agouza in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on the first day of the 2025 Egyptian Senate elections on August 4, 2025. Egypt's two-day vote beginning on August 4 will elect 200 of the 300 seats in the upper chamber of parliament, with the remaining third appointed directly by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former army chief who came to power after ousting Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. (Photo by Khal

Egypt holds second Senate vote as pro-Sisi parties dominate: What to know

The Senate elections, dominated by pro-Sisi government parties, feature fewer party list and individual candidates compared to elections held in 2020.

JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt inks offshore oil and gas deals with Eni, BP: What to know

Egypt faces growing energy vulnerability due to declining natural gas production and heavy reliance on imported supplies.

A NASAMS surface-to-air missile launcher is seen in production at the assembly line of the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace weapons factory in Kongsberg, Norway on Jan. 30, 2023.

US approves $4.67B NASAMS air defense package for Egypt

The State Department announced the massive arms sale after Trump suggested the US may re-engage diplomatically with Egypt and Ethiopia, resurrecting a bid to resolve a yearslong dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah exits the police headquarters in Cairo following his release on December 25, 2011.

What to make of Egypt's removal of Alaa Abdel-Fattah from terror list

An Egyptian court has removed a prominent jailed activist from the country's terrorism list amid scrutiny over Egypt’s human rights record under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Latest News

Egypt pitches new investment plan to US firms: What to know

Boats sail near the shore in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of El-Gouna, on Nov. 1, 2024.

Feature

Copts, Nubians, and Berbers fight to keep Egypt’s endangered languages alive

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Youssra el-Sharkawy

By Youssra el-Sharkawy

Egypt banks on Beijing as premier visit seals yuan, payment deals

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (R) meets with China's Premier Li Qiang at his office in Cairo on July 10, 2025.

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Mohammed Magdy

In Berlin, reporting on Egyptian politics

Ayah Aman

In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture

Salwa Samir

In Giza, reporting on politics

Nada Shaker

In Cairo, reporting on culture

Displaced Palestinians walk next to the border fence between Gaza and Egypt, on February 16, 2024 in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Nearly 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are trapped in Rafah -- more than half of Gaza's populations -- seeking shelter in a sprawling makeshift encampment near the Egyptian border. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Egypt fed up with Netanyahu, but crisis with Israel deeper than Philadelphi

Bilateral relations between Israel and Egypt have been extremely tense, mostly due to disagreement over the Philadelphi Corridor, but not only that.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Lt. Gen. Ahmad Fathy Khalifa, chief of staff of Egypt’s armed forces, inspects security conditions at the Egypt-Gaza border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, on Sept. 5, 2024.

What’s behind Egyptian commander’s visit to Gaza border amid Israel spat?

Lt. Gen. Ahmad Fathy Khalifa’s visit came in response to Israel demanding control of the Philadelphi Corridor, said one expert.

China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang (C) delivers his speech.

At Africa summit, China elevates ties with Libya, invests $14M in Egypt

The Sino-Libyan pact was announced Wednesday by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi at the FOCAC summit in Beijing.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hosts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the Egyptian leader's first-ever Turkey visit, in Ankara, on Sept. 4, 2024.

Turkey, Egypt ink 17 deals as Erdogan hosts Sisi on first visit to Ankara

The Turkish and Egyptian leaders reaffirmed their commitment to improving bilateral ties as well as increasing coordination on regional issues.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the airport in Cairo, Egypt February 14, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office

Analysis

Once sworn enemies, Egypt’s Sisi and Turkey’s Erdogan to meet in Ankara

Despite more than a decade of hostility between Turkey and Egypt, ties appear to be on an upward trajectory.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Saudi Hawks

China, Russia, UAE make strong showing at Egypt International Airshow

China sent military aircraft to fly over the pyramids ahead of the event, which followed a joint naval exercise between Egypt and the People’s Republic.

A Somali National Army soldier stands at attention during the morning briefing for trainee officers at the General Dhagabadan Training Centre in Mogadishu on March 19, 2024.

Tensions surge in Horn of Africa as Ethiopia’s ambitions clash with Somalia, Egypt

Tensions in the Horn of Africa bubble following a weapons delivery from Egypt to Somalia on Tuesday and Ethiopia's accusing Somalia of colluding with foreign governments.

A military vehicle is seen at the Rafah border crossing to Gaza on October 19, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. The aid convoy, organized by a group of Egyptian NGOs, set off Saturday 14th October from Cairo for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah. On October 7th, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on border communities in southern Israel, spurring the most violent flare-up of the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. Israel launched a vast bombing campaign in retaliation and has

Egypt sends military aid to Somalia as tensions soar with Ethiopia

Tensions in the region are high following the signing of a controversial agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland as several countries including Egypt and Turkey seek a foothold in Somalia.

This undated photo taken in April 2018 shows China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning (front), sailing with other ships during a drill at sea.

How significant is Egypt and China’s naval exercise in Mediterranean?

The exercise follows Egyptian President Sisi’s May trip to Beijing, as well as Chinese interest in Egypt’s ports and tech sector.

EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images

Three obstacles remain as Egypt, Israel make progress on Philadelphi Corridor

Gaps between Israel and Egypt over the complicated issue of the Philadelphi Corridor are reportedly closing ahead of a Sunday summit in the Egyptian capital on a hostage release and Gaza cease-fire deal.

Fire sweep over the Marjayoun plain in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel after being hit by Israeli shelling on August 16, 2024, amid the ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (Photo by RABIH DAHER / AFP) (Photo by RABIH DAHER/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With Sinwar undecided, Israel wary of imminent Lebanon war with Hezbollah

“We are within touching distance of an Israeli attack in Lebanon, which is intended to allow us to return the residents of the north to their homes,” a senior Israeli military source told Al-Monitor this week, even as Iran hesitates on next steps.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An Egyptian army soldier stands among the bushes in the wired border of the Philadelphi Corridor.

Mossad director, US officials back in Egypt for talks on Philadelphi Corridor

The Israeli delegation for the deal to release the hostages arrived in Cairo for talks with the Americans and Egyptians ahead of a potential summit this Sunday.