Photo courtesy of the Spokesman for the Egyptian presidency.
President El-Sisi made these remarks during the 43rd Cultural Symposium held to mark the Armed Forces Martyrs' Day.
He also expressed hope that the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, now entering its 10th day, would not affect Egypt’s economy.
“We hope that the ongoing war in the region will not have economic repercussions for Egypt, as it did in October 2023, when we incurred losses of nearly $10 billion in Suez Canal revenues due to the war in Gaza, in addition to other direct and indirect consequences of that conflict,” he said.
Concerns are growing that a prolonged conflict could have serious economic consequences, particularly if instability spreads to oil markets or disrupts shipping through key waterways.
Earlier in March, during an Armed Forces iftar, El-Sisi warned that any disruption to energy flows in the region, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, could sharply increase global oil prices. This would raise Egypt’s import bill and the cost of petroleum products.
Egypt imports a significant share of its energy needs and remains sensitive to global fuel price fluctuations, which directly affect domestic inflation, subsidy costs, and public finances.
Moreover, President El-Sisi said the region “is witnessing a critical and fateful situation; the ongoing war will have grave humanitarian, economic, and security repercussions.”
He reiterated Cairo’s condemnation of Iranian aggression against Arab nations, while calling for efforts to end the war and pursue peaceful solutions.
“There can be no settlements without dialogue, no solutions without negotiation, and no peace without understanding, understanding that guarantees security, preserves resources, and protects people from the ravages of war,” he said.
Turning to the Palestinian cause, El-Sisi described it as the core of the conflict in the Middle East, affirming Egypt’s firm stance on the matter.
“There can be no peace without justice, and no stability without an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he stated.
He reiterated Egypt’s categorical rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land. “This is a red line that Egypt will never allow to be crossed.”
The president noted that reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, under the framework of US President Donald Trump’s plan, marked a turning point in the history of the conflict.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s firm opposition to any attempts to obstruct the agreement and stressed the urgent need to expedite humanitarian aid, begin the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and launch a serious political process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"This is the only way to end this tragedy and achieve a just and lasting peace in the region," he affirmed.
His remarks come as Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank continue, despite the peace agreement reached in Sharm El-Sheikh in October after intensive negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States.
In the same vein, El-Sisi warned against attempts to ignite conflict in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa, describing such actions as “extremely dangerous adventures that will have repercussions no one will be able to contain and from which no party will be immune.”
“Egypt, which has always called for cooperation and integration with its sister nations in the Nile Basin, will not allow the region to be dragged into futile conflicts that threaten its present and future,” he said.
El-Sisi emphasized that national unity, public awareness, and human development are the pillars of Egypt’s resilience amid current challenges.
He added that by investing in the skills and talents of its citizens, the country can overcome existing obstacles and achieve its long-term goal of joining the ranks of the world’s most developed nations.
Honouring families of the fallen
During the event, El-Sisi honoured several families of martyrs and veterans wounded in military operations.
He said the occasion is not merely a fleeting memory, but a renewal of gratitude, appreciation, and loyalty, reviving values of sacrifice, dedication, and selflessness.
“It is a day on which we commemorate men who… offered their pure souls as a sacrifice for the homeland, believing that the homeland is a trust, preserving it an honour, and martyrdom in its cause a glory,” he said.
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