Egypt’s Sisi: Camp David Is a Model for Lasting Peace

After months of threatening to discard its peace treaty with Israel, Egypt has shifted its tone dramatically. Speaking at the emergency Arab Summit on March 4, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi remarked that the peace treaty is a “model that intends to transform the state of hostility, war, and the desire for revenge into permanent peace and diplomatic relations.”

Tensions Over Gaza Threatened the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty

The Camp David Accords of 1978 paved the way for the Israel-Egypt peace treaty of 1979, the first ever between the Jewish state and an Arab partner. Though often tested by regional instability and clashes between Palestinian factions and Israel, it has remained a cornerstone of Israeli-Arab relations.

Nevertheless, Cairo has repeatedly threatened the treaty amid the war sparked by the October 7 Hamas massacre. In February 2024, Jerusalem informed Cairo that it had planned a ground operation in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, which lies adjacent to the Egyptian border. In response, Egyptian officials reportedly said, “if even one Palestinian refugee crosses over — the peace agreement will be nullified.” Anticipating that Israel might proceed with the ground operation regardless, Egypt reinforced its security measures along its border with Gaza, adding cameras, watchtowers, and sensors.

Egypt Railed Against the IDF Offensive in Rafah

When the Israel Defense Forces launched its operation in Rafah in May 2024, Cairo mounted a concerted media and diplomatic campaign to paint the operation as reckless. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry accused Israel of pursuing a “policy of brinkmanship that has long-term impact.” Meanwhile, prominent Egyptian talk show host Amr Adeeb condemned the Israeli action, saying the move was “full of challenge and stupidity.” Egypt also further reinforced its border by moving tanks into the Sinai.

By September 2024, the Philadelphi Corridor, an eight-mile stretch of land on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, had come under Israeli control. Egypt warned that if Israel did not withdraw from the corridor, the treaty would be in jeopardy.

While Cairo has threatened the peace treaty, its commitment to enforcing the pact is open to question. Since October 2024, the IDF has intercepted several drones smuggling weapons from Egypt into Gaza and Israel, with the most recent attempt occurring on January 28. Egyptian officials have dismissed claims that smuggling, via drones or otherwise, is taking place. 

Washington Must Protect the Treaty Without Tying It to Gaza

While Sisi’s comment is a step in the right direction, Washington should emphasize the need to decouple the treaty’s stability from specific military operations or regional developments. The Camp David Accords have been a stabilizing force for nearly half a century, and their preservation should remain a U.S. priority.

Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Mariam and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Mariam on X@themariamwahba. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.