The Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, plays a pivotal role in global maritime traffic and is a key source of revenue for Egypt. The recent incident has highlighted the sensitive nature of the canal’s usage amid rising geopolitical tensions.
In a public statement, the SCA stressed its adherence to the Constantinople Convention of 1888, an international treaty that guarantees unrestricted access to the canal for vessels of any nationality, whether they are commercial or military.
“The Suez Canal Authority emphasizes its commitment to the implementation of international treaties guaranteeing free passage to ships transiting the Suez Canal, regardless of their nationality,” read the statement, according to National News.
The incident gained widespread attention on social media, with many users questioning Egypt’s neutrality amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. Reports circulated that the Israeli vessel was displaying both Israeli and Egyptian flags while sailing south through the canal.
The SCA responded by explaining that under canal regulations, foreign vessels must display both the host nation’s flag and the flag of their country of registration.
Egypt, which became the first Arab nation to sign a peace agreement with Israel in 1979, has faced growing public scrutiny over its perceived stance in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The canal’s policy of neutrality, however, is grounded in its commitment to maintaining the waterway as an open international corridor, as set forth in the 1888 treaty.
Despite the assurances provided by the SCA, some Egyptian citizens remain concerned about the potential implications of Israeli military presence in Egyptian territorial waters.
In a separate statement, the Egyptian Armed Forces addressed circulating claims suggesting that Egypt may be assisting Israel in its Gaza operations.
The military categorically denied these allegations, stating, “The Egyptian Armed Forces categorically deny what has been circulated on social media and suspicious accounts and what is being promoted about assisting Israel in its military operations in general and in detail.”
This response came in reaction to unverified social media reports that the Egyptian port of Alexandria had received a shipment of explosives reportedly bound for Israel.
Egypt’s Transport Ministry later clarified that the ship in question was not bound for Israel but had arrived to offload cargo intended for Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production, and would next travel to Turkey.
This response followed an appeal by a pro-Palestinian legal group in Berlin to halt a shipment of military-grade explosives allegedly headed for Israel’s largest defense contractor, Elbit Systems.
The Suez Canal remains a vital economic artery for Egypt, but President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently disclosed that geopolitical tensions, particularly around the Gaza conflict, have cost the country an estimated $6 billion in lost canal revenue.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, Egypt faces a delicate balancing act between adhering to international maritime regulations and responding to the concerns of its population, while maintaining its longstanding role as the gatekeeper of one of the world’s most strategically significant waterways.