Sisi highlights 1979 treaty with Israel, says Egypt always chooses peace

CAIRO – 7 March 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi referenced the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty in his address at the Egyptian Military Academy on Friday, highlighting Egypt’s efforts, in collaboration with global partners, to end the ongoing war in Gaza.

“We were the first [Arab] country to sign a peace agreement [with Israel] in 1979. We had a remarkable experience at that time. There was no one talking about peace, and President [Anwar] Al Sadat's proposal for this issue was a topic of great discussion and had significant impacts at the time,” Sisi stated.

The president emphasized that Egypt has always chosen peace, underscoring the nation’s positive role in settling conflicts with a focus on achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, and securing the release of captives.

"Egypt's choice is always peace, and it is the best option because the money spent on wars could instead be invested in reconstruction and development. Even those who win in war find that the costs associated with achieving that victory have a significant impact on their economy,” Sisi said.

He stressed that Egypt continues coordination with partners in Europe and the United States to bring an end to the war in Gaza.

Hamas has warned that US President Donald Trump’s “last warning” to the movement, demanding the release of all remaining captives in Gaza “or THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY,” only complicates the ceasefire agreement#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/vxDMakefQ0

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 7, 2025

Sisi also highlighted Egypt’s proposal for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which was endorsed by Arab leaders during an extraordinary summit in Cairo on Tuesday, describing the plan as "executable."

He noted that all state institutions worked on the plan, including the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Housing, and the Armed Forces Engineering Authority.

"All of these have collaborated to create a comprehensive and executable document," Sisi said.

Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed an Egyptian plan for Gaza reconstruction, aimed to provide an alternative to a proposal unveiled by US President Donald Trump to “take over” Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East#Egypt #Africa #MENAhttps://t.co/ZAr3dHft4s

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) March 6, 2025

ARAB SUMMIT

The Arab-endorsed Egyptian plan aims to rebuild Gaza after nearly a year and a half of Israeli war that devastated more than 60 percent of homes and 65 percent of roads in the Strip, according to UN estimates.

The war was halted by a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The agreement took effect on January 19 but is currently facing a deadlock in negotiations following the expiry of the first phase.

Hamas and the Arab mediators are pushing for a transition to the second phase of the agreement, which aims to end the war and allow reconstruction to begin.

However, Israel seeks to extend the first phase, which involves an exchange of Israeli captives held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails without obligation to end to the war.

Tel Aviv has halted humanitarian aid to Gaza since last Sunday in response to Hamas’s rejection of the Israeli ceasefire extension proposal.

ARAB-BACKED PLAN

Egypt has prepared the reconstruction plan in coordination with Arab nations, countering Israeli-US plans that aim to relocate residents permanently outside their lands, particularly to Egypt and Qatar.

The $53 billion Arab counterplan adopts a five-year timeframe for reconstruction of post-war Gaza, according to a document obtained by local and foreign media outlets.

The plan ensures that Gaza residents remain on their lands while their homes and facilities are being reconstructed.

The multi-phase plan will secure housing units for the population in Gaza, remove millions of tons of debris, and develop an industrial zone, fishing and commercial ports, and an airport.

For post-war governance, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated during the summit that the Palestinian Authority will reassume control over the Gaza Strip under the plan.

Sisi during the summit highlighted Egypt’s efforts to form “an administrative committee comprising Palestinian professionals and independent technocrats, entrusted with managing the Gaza Strip” after the war.

He added that this committee will be responsible for overseeing Gaza during a temporary period and supervising the relief process, in preparation for the return of the Palestinian Authority to the enclave.