Sissi Refuses Netanyahu Meeting Amid Deepening Egypt-Israel Rift

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has no intention of meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at this time, a government official familiar with the situation tells The Times of Israel, despite reports that Netanyahu has been pushing for such a meeting.

According to the official, Cairo has been angered by a range of unresolved disputes with Jerusalem in recent months, significantly lowering the likelihood of a Sissi-Netanyahu summit even as officials in both Jerusalem and Washington express interest in arranging one.

During the Gaza war, Egypt repeatedly cautioned Israel against any military action that could force Palestinians south toward the Sinai Peninsula — a scenario it sees as a national security threat and an absolute red line. Cairo is still concerned Israel has not abandoned such plans, noting that early reconstruction efforts are slated to begin in Rafah, which borders Egypt, the official says.

The official also notes that Israel has only allowed the Rafah Crossing to open for Palestinians leaving Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty argued last week that Cairo views this as an Israeli attempt to reduce the population in Gaza — something Egypt firmly opposes.

Tensions spiked further in October when Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen withdrew from a scheduled signing of a major gas agreement with Egypt, arguing that the deal’s terms were unfair to Israel. The move angered both Washington and Cairo.

Netanyahu, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, and other officials have repeatedly accused Egypt of deploying excessive troops in the Sinai Peninsula, alleging a breach of the 1979 peace treaty. Egypt has categorically rejected the claims.

Relations between Netanyahu and Sissi have long been fraught, and the two leaders have not spoken since before the Gaza war.

Although Netanyahu has made efforts to repair ties in recent months, the official says Sissi remains unwilling to engage without major changes to Israel’s approach toward Egypt.

The official adds that Sissi is also determined not to serve as a “prop” for Netanyahu during an Israeli election year.