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An anonymous group has released a disturbing video reportedly showing a serving Egyptian minister in a sexual video call.
The video was accompanied by a chilling demand: Egypt must cancel its $35 billion gas agreement with Israel and open the Rafah border crossing to ease Gaza’s blockade, or face more damaging leaks.
Egypt-Israel Gas Deal: What’s at Stake?
Egypt’s newly signed gas deal with NewMed Energy and Chevron marks the country’s largest-ever energy deal. Hence the timing of this video is crucial.
The deal secures an additional 130 billion cubic meters of Israeli gas through 2040, significantly increasing Cairo’s reliance on Israel. Israel’s $35 billion deal is already the biggest export contract in its history.
About the video, a masked individual accuses President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of handing “the country’s keys to its enemy,” warning that citizens have been made “hostages in the enemy’s hands.” “You’re dragging all of us by the neck and putting us as hostages in the enemy’s hands,” the individual added.
Cybersecurity experts are calling the private leak a designed maneuver to trigger public outrage over the perceived betrayal, combining scandal with religio-political pressure.
Gas Deal Aftermath: Context and Wider Implications
Since the 2018 landmark deal, Egypt and Israel have steadily deepened energy ties. But recent surges in Gaza casualties and rampant aid blockages by Israel have triggered widespread criticism. Many critics argue that Egypt’s energy agreement ignores Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and enables continued oppression.
The new deal was announced in August amid the devastation of Gaza, fueling speculation that it was driven by geopolitical strategy rather than public welfare.
A Calculated Pressure Play
Video leaks often blend personal scandals with geopolitical situations. Experts call this a byproduct of escalating hybrid strategy in political dissent. The video’s targeting of a state official adds both a personal and public dimension to the protest.
It is also a move to force Egypt’s leadership into a delicate calculus: risk diplomatic fallout or cede to domestic pressure by reconsidering the gas pact. In any case, Egypt now faces a mounting domestic backlash and regional scrutiny from within and other regional powers.
