In public address amid war on Gaza, Sisi warns against acting out of ‘anger,’ ‘fervor,’ ‘illusions of power’

The role of the Armed Forces, said President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, is to protect Egypt’s borders and national security “without transgression,” warning against actions resulting from “anger, fervor,” and “illusions of power.”

Sisi’s address, which was broadcast live on domestic television channels, came as he attended a war readiness inspection of the Fourth Armored Division of the Third Field Army in Suez, not much more than 200 kilometers distant from the war raging in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking to the attendants, Sisi saluted the Armed Forces for their role in times of war and times of peace, noting that Wednesday’s inspection was arranged as part of official ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1973 October war, when Egypt regained part of the Sinai Peninsula from Israeli control. 

The number of planned celebratory activities was minimized, he said, “in consideration of the current circumstances” in the Gaza Strip.

The president then went on to comment on what he said “is being talked about” regarding national security, stressing that a major role of the Armed Forces is to protect Egyptian soil and Egypt’s interests and national security “without going beyond its borders.”

He also stressed the importance of Egypt using its force wisely and rationally, warning against going along with “illusions about your existing power.”

“Beware of anger and fervor making you think about acting in a transgressive way. Beware of the illusions of power that could push you to take a decision and take action then say later that you hadn’t properly thought it through,” Sisi said, explicitly directing his advice to both the military and the Egyptian public.

The president then moved on to talking directly about the situation in Gaza, stressing that Egypt is playing a “very positive role” in cooperation with “brothers, friends and partners,” in pushing for a ceasefire and containment of the escalation, as well as relieving the Palestinians in Gaza.

Since the start of the offensive on Gaza,  Israel has tightened its siege on the enclave by cutting off water, electricity, fuel, medical and food supplies. While Egypt has been working to facilitate the delivery of food, water and medicines aid to Palestinians in Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, the process has been heavily constrained by restrictive conditions Israel has placed on aid delivery, and multiple airstrikes during the first two days of war that lead to the closure of the crossing.

“Over the past 20 years, there have been nearly five rounds of conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip. With Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the groups in the Gaza Strip. Five times. And Egypt’s role has always been positive in containing and calming the escalation, and mitigating the effects of the conflict,” Sisi said.

The president then reiterated Egypt’s stated position on the war, noting its support for a diplomatic route leading to a two-state solution to the Palestinian cause, emphasizing that establishing an independent Palestinian state on the lands occupied in 1967, with east Jerusalem as the capital, “would give the Palestinians hope and at the same time take into account the security of both the Palestinians and the Israelis.”

Speaking last week in a joint presser with the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Sisi stressed that Egypt stands strongly against proposals to displace Palestinians from Gaza and into Sinai, arguing that it would lead to the eradication of the Palestinian cause and turn Sinai into the new base of resistance operations against Israel.

Sisi concluded by praising the presentation made by the Fourth Armored Division and pointing out the importance of “arming yourself with science and knowledge,” with regard to following up on developments in military equipment, weapons, and various theories, as well as “arming yourself with faith,” before reiterating, “no matter how strong you are, it is a rational strength. This is a feature of the army in Egypt. It builds, maintains, and protects, and does not transgress.”

Sisi’s speech came as Egypt is contained between two ongoing conflicts, with Israel’s onslaught on Gaza since early October to the east, and an ongoing war in Sudan to the south between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces.