In a special interview at EIPC 2025 in Paris, Reform and Advancement Celebration chief Anwar E. El Sadat provided a plain view of Cairo’s Gaza policy– marked by peaceful stress, tactical restraint, and deep skepticism towards Hamas
Anwar E. El Sadat– chair of the Committee of Civil and Political Rights at Egypt’s National Council for Human being Rights, president of the liberal, centrist Reform and Advancement Celebration, and nephew of the late President Anwar Sadat– took a seat with The Media Line in Paris after speaking on a high-stakes panel at the 2025 International Policy Conference (EIPC), hosted by ELNET, the European Management Network. The panel was entitled “The Day After: Structure a Comprehensive Healing Prepare For Gaza and Beyond.”
Joining him on the panel were Massimo Khairallah of the Med-Or Structure and Ambassador Joshua Zarka, Israel’s ambassador to France and previous deputy director basic for tactical affairs at the Foreign Ministry. Although the conversation was carried out with diplomatic courtesy, Zarka appeared noticeably anxious as El Sadat aired Egypt’s complaints towards Israel and its complex however important relationship with Hamas.
Turning to the domestic scene, El Sadat safeguarded President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s restrained action to the war in Gaza, regardless of prevalent anger amongst Egyptians over the humanitarian crisis unfolding there.
” El-Sisi was under serious pressure from popular opinion, from the Nasserists, from the leftists … however I believe he was smart,” he kept in mind.
While public calls to expel the Israeli ambassador or recall Egypt’s envoy from Tel Aviv were growing louder, el-Sisi picked a quieter course– preventing direct fight while preserving lines of interaction with both sides.
That policy, nevertheless, has actually not avoided friction in between Cairo and Jerusalem. El Sadat indicated current Israeli military operations– specifically, the seizure of the Philadelphi Passage and the closure of the Rafah crossing– as deeply troublesome.
” Israel has actually not been assisting,” he stated candidly. The relocations bypassed Cairo totally and, in his words, “cornered” the Egyptian management.
While he acknowledged that Israel might have legitimate security issues, such as the smuggling of weapons through the passage, El Sadat alerted that unilateral actions like these “break the security annexes of the Camp David Accords” and harm Egypt’s reliability in the area.
Inquired about accusations that Egypt had actually permitted weapons and building products to stream into Gaza for Hamas’ military facilities, El Sadat neither verified nor rejected them, however explained that the problem had deeply ashamed the Egyptian management.
” Israel thinks that this Philadelphia Passage was in some way a passage where Hamas was smuggling weapons, and their leaders may discover an escape,” he stated. “So this was really awkward– to Egypt, to the army, and to el-Sisi. Everybody was informing him, now you keep stating that the Philadelphi Passage is a red line, and after that [Israel] simply took it.”
Regardless of these stress, El Sadat highlighted that Egypt continues to play a crucial function in mediation efforts, particularly in coordination with Qatar.
” We are attempting to moderate, and we have actually in some way effectively been playing a great function in the release of captives,” he stated.
He kept in mind that while Qatar holds higher utilize over Hamas due to its longstanding monetary and political assistance, Egypt stays a vital intermediary due to the fact that of its location and political stature.
Egypt handled to come to an arrangement with the leaders of Hamas that your time is over. … You need to in some way give up.
” Together with the Qataris, due to the fact that the Qataris, as you understand, are in some way prominent with Hamas, due to the fact that they were in fact funding them, supporting them, and hosting their politicians back in Doha.”
Turning to Egypt’s negotiations with Hamas, El Sadat stated Cairo had actually reached some understanding with the group’s older management– however not with its more youthful, more extreme base.
” Egypt handled to come to an arrangement with the leaders of Hamas that your time is over. Nobody wants to handle you. You need to in some way give up in a manner. And the leaders concur. They comprehend this,” he specified.
However he warned that Hamas is no longer a combined company.
The issue is those who remain in Gaza, the young generation. They can not encourage them. They can not manage them.
” The issue is those who remain in Gaza, the young generation. They can not encourage them. They can not manage them. … They have actually been through hell. So they do not care.”
Pushed even more, El Sadat defined the Egypt-Hamas dynamic in striking terms.
” The relationship in between Egypt and Hamas is hate and love. Hamas requires Egypt, however Egypt, we do not trust them, and they do not trust us, too.”
He stated this shared suspect is rooted in years of stopped working coordination and control, which departments within Hamas are no longer simply generational or political.
This is an internal issue … Hamas and Hamas. New generations and old generations. This is the genuine issue.
” This is an internal issue … Hamas and Hamas. New generations and old generations. This is the genuine issue.”
When asked whether Egypt may host banished Hamas leaders as part of a worked out settlement, El Sadat did not dismiss the possibility– however was plainly unwilling.
” Not always, however we will discover a method. We are under pressure. We have enough difficulties. … Sudan, Libya, and our financial issues, too.”
He likewise indicated larger local instability and its financial effects for Egypt, especially from Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.
” Practically $5 billion [has been] lost currently,” he stated. “The Houthis have not assisted.”
When it comes to Egypt participating in any future governance of Gaza, El Sadat was indisputable.
” Egypt is not interested,” he stated. “It needs to be within the Palestinians themselves.”
He permitted that an international structure might be thought about–” possibly if they state Arab soldiers or worldwide or UN”– however dismissed any direct Egyptian military or political participation.
The interview likewise discussed wider shifts in local power. El Sadat stated Egypt’s impact in the Arab world is no longer what it when was.
” The Saudis think that Egypt is now in extensive care … so it’s our time,” he stated with a trace of paradox. “Historically, if any American president would pertain to the location, the very first stop would be Egypt. Not any longer.”
He was likewise dismissive of propositions by United States President Donald Trump to change Gaza into a “Middle Eastern Singapore.
” It will not work. This is not something rational,” he stated. “However we are utilized to this– Trump constantly begins really high, and after that gradually he boils down.”
Still, El Sadat thinks that the damage and injury following October 7 present an uncommon, if short lived, diplomatic chance.
” This is a chance … although it has actually been really damaging for them, what took place on the 7th of October. They must sit at the table and work out– whether a two-state option, one-state option, whatever. However let’s speak to the Palestinians,” he stated, rapidly including: “I do not imply Hamas. Forget Hamas.”
For him, the difference is essential.
” Let’s speak to Palestinians– whether from the West Bank, Palestinians from outdoors, whoever. All the Arab nations want to support this and to search for a method, an option.”
He concluded with an alerting about the quickly diminishing potential customers for Palestinian statehood.
” Truthfully, today, if you want to make a Palestinian state, there is no land left. There is absolutely nothing. … I can not envision how you can make a Palestinian state of what is left.”
For El Sadat, the window for diplomacy is closing quick.
” If Netanyahu and the federal government are clever enough, then they must believe … this is a possibility. If he does not get it, then we will continue combating permanently.”