Egypt-Hamas tensions at all-time high over demand to disarm and leave Gaza

Sources say Cairo's position marks a dramatic shift in its approach to the Palestinian movement and mediation conditions

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) on 30 July 2025 in Washington, DC (AFP)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (L) meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) on 30 July 2025 in Washington DC (AFP)

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Egypt's support for calls to disarm Hamas has reignited tensions with the Palestinian movement and stalled ceasefire negotiations, Egyptian and Palestinian sources told Middle East Eye.

The rift emerged after Cairo relayed messages to Hamas leaders in Doha in late April, demanding the group surrender its weapons and withdraw fighters from Gaza - a position Hamas firmly rejects.

The push for disarmament reflects mounting pressure from the United States and key Arab states.

On 29 July, Egypt joined Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the Arab League in endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution, which calls on Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.

According to Egyptian sources, Cairo had initially resisted linking disarmament to ceasefire negotiations.

However, under sustained pressure from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Egypt shifted its stance, aligning itself with regional efforts to initiate what has been described as a "surrender process".

This position aligns with Israeli preconditions, backed by Washington, for ending the war on Gaza.

Sources said Egypt had previously insisted that disarmament be part of a broader political settlement tied to ending the Israeli occupation. Cairo had rejected any proposals requiring Hamas to disarm prior to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

'Egypt's alignment with the American agenda is detrimental to both Egypt and Hamas'

- Moataz Khalil, Former Egypt UN envoy

This earlier stance was reiterated by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during a visit to Washington in March, citing Israel's failure to defeat Hamas militarily.

"It is unreasonable to ask mediators to achieve through politics what Israel could not achieve through months of military operations," Abdelatty said during his trip to Washington.

Two diplomatic sources in Cairo said the policy shift was also driven by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the breakdown of diplomatic channels.

Egyptian authorities are especially concerned by Israeli efforts to forcibly displace Gaza's population into northern Sinai.

Reports of a large-scale tent camp being constructed in the Rafah area, near the Egyptian border, to house more than half a million displaced people, have drawn condemnation, with many describing it as a concentration camp.

This, along with growing public anger in Egypt over what is perceived as government complicity and an inadequate response to the crisis, has further fuelled tensions.

Egypt’s credibility 'undermined'

Moataz Ahmadein Khalil, Egypt's former ambassador to the United Nations, told Middle East Eye that Egypt's shift reflects Washington's view of Cairo's role as "primarily a lever to pressure Hamas into accepting American and Israeli demands".

He explained that this perception stems from Egypt's acute economic crisis and its reliance on political backing from the US in securing support from international and regional donors, as well as direct financial aid from Washington.

"Egypt's alignment with the American agenda is detrimental to both Egypt and Hamas," argued Khalil.

"Accommodating Washington's demands would only encourage Trump to ask for more and would ultimately undermine Egypt's credibility as a mediator.

"Furthermore, this approach fails to leverage the mediation role to serve Egypt's own national interests, independent of US or Israeli goals."

Palestinians 'let down'

The Egypt-Hamas tensions reached their peak in late July following a televised speech by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader.

The Doha-based leader made a direct appeal to the Egyptian people and their religious, military, community and intellectual leaders to help break the siege on Gaza.

"Our Palestinian people feel let down," Hayya said.

"Will your brothers in Gaza die of hunger while they are just across your border and within your reach?" he asked.

He criticised the air-dropping of aid, describing it as a "tragic farce", and criticised the closure of the Egyptian-Palestinian Rafah border crossing.

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"We look to the great country of Egypt to say definitively that Gaza will not die of hunger, and that it will not allow the enemy to keep the Rafah crossing closed to the needs of Gaza."

According to one Egyptian security source, Cairo responded to Hayya's speech with deep anger, viewing it as incitement against the government and an attempt to hold Egypt responsible for Gaza's starvation.

Officials feared the speech could provoke popular unrest and threaten national stability. They also interpreted the call to forcibly open the Rafah crossing as a dangerous appeal to involve Cairo in the war against Israel and as a threat to Egypt's national security.

Following the speech by Hayya, regarded by Egyptian officials as one of the Hamas leaders closest to Cairo, the Egyptian regime launched a fierce media campaign against Hamas.

Numerous pro-government journalists and online platforms criticised the group. Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service, described Hayya's remarks as "extremely dangerous". MP Mostafa Bakry, known for his ties to Egypt's intelligence services, called on Hamas's leadership to issue a statement absolving Egypt of any role in the blockade and thanking it for the aid provided.

A source from within the Palestinian movement told MEE: "Hayya's appeal was made in the spirit of goodwill, brotherhood and the deep sense of hope the people of Gaza hold towards the Egyptians, and not as incitement."

The source added that, amid the severe deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the complete political deadlock in negotiations, "the only door left to knock on is that of our brothers in Egypt".

MEE contacted the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but did not receive a response by publication.

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