Cairo has effectively frozen the appointment of Israel’s next ambassador, Uri Rotman, signaling a deepening rift in what has long been a cornerstone of regional stability. According to Egyptian sources quoted by Asharq al-Awsat, Egypt has declined to approve Rotman’s nomination, leaving Israel without a formal ambassador in Cairo at a time when regional tensions are surging.
Simultaneously, Egypt’s own ambassador to Israel, Khaled Azmi, who was recalled to Cairo during the early stages of the Gaza war, has yet to return—further highlighting the erosion of bilateral trust.
This diplomatic freeze is directly linked to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, massacre—when 6,000 terrorists from Gaza invaded Israel in a brutal attack that left over 1,163 people dead and more than 250 hostages dragged into underground captivity in Gaza. That attack, led by Hamas and supported by Islamic Jihad, Al Jazeera operatives, and even UNRWA employees, marked the deadliest terrorist assault against Jews since the Holocaust.
In the war that followed, Israel launched the Iron Swords War—a comprehensive military campaign to dismantle Hamas and confront the broader Iran-backed terror network that includes Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militias in Syria and Iraq. Egypt, while maintaining formal peace with Israel, has come under mounting pressure from the Arab world and domestic public opinion for its security cooperation with the Jewish state during this war.
Yet, Egypt’s position is not without contradiction. Despite withholding ambassadorial approval, it continues to mediate hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas—many of which have resulted in lopsided deals that forced Israel to release convicted terrorists in exchange for innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
This diplomatic standoff also illustrates the broader challenge facing moderate Arab governments: navigating the fallout of a war that has revealed Hamas’ genocidal intent while managing anti-Israel sentiment inflamed by years of regional propaganda. Egypt’s cold shoulder may be an attempt to appease domestic anger, but it also risks undermining the strategic alliance that has helped preserve peace since the Camp David Accords.
Israel, for its part, remains resolute. With backing from the United States under President Donald Trump, including over $12 billion in military aid and full diplomatic support, Israel is determined to eliminate Hamas, neutralize Hezbollah, and dismantle Iran’s terror infrastructure across the region.
At a time when the Middle East is being reshaped by war, alliances, and shifting loyalties, Egypt’s diplomatic freeze is more than symbolic—it’s a test of whether peace forged through treaties can withstand the storms of terror and war.
