Egypt Protests Alleged Qatari Campaign Targeting Its Ties With Israel

Egypt has lodged protests with Israeli officials over a systematic campaign it believes Qatar has orchestrated to damage its relations with Israel, according to an Israeli Channel 12 report. Cairo detected the alleged influence campaign throughout 2024, which it claims aimed not only to improve Qatar's image but also to spread negative messages about Egypt. Egyptian officials reportedly realized they were being targeted by a coordinated effort, prompting Cairo to act through political and security channels.

During this period, a senior Egyptian official visited Israel and met with a member of the Israeli ministerial council before the Israeli military operation in Rafah in spring 2024. The Egyptian official accused Israel of attempting to sideline Egypt from negotiations, stating, "Israel does not treat us with respect, and this will have repercussions." The Israeli minister reportedly responded that Israel desired greater cooperation with Egypt regarding the Rafah operation.

Israeli security officials involved in direct communication with their Egyptian counterparts conveyed Cairo's concerns to the relevant authorities. An internal Israeli document from that time reportedly addressed the tension with Egypt and the repercussions of Cairo's perception that Israel was promoting anti-Egypt messaging. A senior Egyptian diplomat also contacted an Israeli diplomatic official to question Israel's treatment of Egypt.

These developments occurred at a sensitive time, as Israel needed Egyptian cooperation while Cairo expressed concerns about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees into Egypt due to the Rafah operation. The report linked these events to the ongoing investigation into the "Qatargate" affair, which involves suspicions about the dealings of advisors close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Qatari entities. The affair may involve a legal clause concerning damage to Israel's foreign relations, classified as a security offense.

Separately, Netanyahu's advisor Yonatan Uriach reportedly admitted during an investigation that he continued working with Qatari entities for months after the October 7, 2023, attacks, concluding his work around mid-to-late 2024. Uriach stated he received "hundreds of thousands of shekels" for the Qatar-related project but could not provide an exact figure.