Gas Deal With Israel Under Discussion, Subject to Egypt’s National Interests, SIS Head Says

CAIRO – 18 December 2025: Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), said Thursday that a gas agreement between Egypt and Israel remains under discussion and is being managed within a framework that prioritizes Egyptian national interests.

He emphasized that Cairo makes its economic decisions based on precise calculations grounded solely in its national welfare.

In statements reported by Al Qahera News, Rashwan explained that the agreement aligns with Egypt’s strategic interests as the sole regional hub for gas trading in the Eastern Mediterranean. This position strengthens Egypt’s regional and international standing in the energy sector and supports the country’s plans to become a major energy center.

Rashwan pointed out that Egypt possesses a comprehensive and advanced natural gas infrastructure, including liquefaction plants, pipelines, and modern networks. This infrastructure allows the country to diversify its gas sources and respond flexibly to fluctuations in regional and international energy markets.

The SIS head stressed that all agreements in this context are subject to continuous evaluation. Decisions will be made to maximize benefits for the Egyptian economy and preserve the country’s strategic role as a regional hub for gas trading in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Rashwan affirmed that reports circulated by certain media outlets and on social media regarding the gas deal are inaccurate in their implications. The agreement in question is a purely commercial transaction concluded exclusively on the basis of economic and investment considerations and does not involve any political dimensions or understandings whatsoever.

He explained that the deal is a commercial contract governed by market rules and international investment mechanisms, and is entirely removed from any political interpretation or utilization.

Rashwan emphasized that the parties to the agreement are well-established international energy companies with long-standing experience in the sector, including the U.S.-based company Chevron, in addition to Egyptian companies specialized in the receipt, transportation, and trading of natural gas. He stressed that these contracts were concluded without any direct government intervention.

The SIS head cautioned against being influenced by propaganda or hostile media campaigns that seek to politicize a purely commercial agreement, stressing that the timing of the announcement does not alter the fact that the deal is the outcome of commercial negotiations concluded earlier in accordance with market principles.

He concluded by affirming unequivocally that Egypt’s position on the Palestinian cause is firm and unwavering. It is based on supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, rejecting forced displacement, and adhering to the two-state solution.

He underscored that Egyptian action and diplomacy played a decisive role in thwarting displacement plans and in advancing a pathway for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, as reflected in the outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit—demonstrating the consistency of Egypt’s political and moral stance.

Rashwan has also dismissed rumors of a potential meeting between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "completely baseless." He confirmed that no such arrangements are in place.

Furthermore, he clarified that the recent gas negotiations involve no bilateral agreements with Israel, but are strictly focused on regional, Arab, and international interests.