Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi urged citizens to “fortify your country against this conspiracy.. and I do not say fortify the president,” while asserting Egypt harbours no hidden ambitions towards Israel following recent remarks by an Israeli official regarding Sinai.
Speaking at the 44th Educational Seminar marking the 53rd anniversary of the October 1973 war victories, Al-Sisi stated that the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty governs relations and questioned whether certain circles in Israel hold unjustified concerns about Egyptian ambitions. He reiterated that Egypt’s primary priority is maintaining its borders and national security in a framework of peace, advocating for a two-state solution to establish a “respectable Palestinian state and a respectable Israeli state.” He added that Gulf national security is an integral part of Egyptian national security, expressing readiness to do whatever is necessary to de-escalate regional tensions and secure navigation.
Addressing internal politics, Al-Sisi warned of systematic campaigns and psychological warfare over recent months aimed at destabilising the state, doubting the October victory, and falsifying public consciousness via social media. He stressed that the country has an approved constitution, repeating twice that “no one will touch it,” and warned against a repeat of the 2011 turmoil. He concluded his intervention by telling the public: “Take care of Egypt.. take care of your country.”
The President reflected on the period between 2011 and 2013, noting that a 1.5-year wave of continuous protests had drained the central bank’s foreign reserves and damaged tourism. Recalling his tenure as head of Military Intelligence, Al-Sisi said he had met with political currents and presidential candidates, and had anticipated to the then-U.S. Ambassador that the Muslim Brotherhood would assume power. However, he predicted their rule would be short-lived because the country’s challenges exceeded their capabilities. He noted he had told the late Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, whom he described as a wise man, during a Supreme Council of the Armed Forces meeting that power could be handed to the group if elected by the people, prioritising the survival of state institutions over political factions.
Al-Sisi noted that the Egyptian people viewed him as a hero in 2013, adding that the subsequent 14-year war against terrorism cost the state over EGP 120bn alongside casualties, ultimately achieving stability. Drawing parallels to 1973, he referenced Ahmed Aboul Gheit’s comparison of the challenges in 1973 and 2013, noting both eras required defending the state’s identity and homeland. Al-Sisi mentioned late President Anwar Sadat’s aborted 1976 economic reforms, which were halted due to protests when the population was 40 million. He noted that a politician had advised Sadat to release religious groups from prison to counter another political current, a step that ultimately led to Sadat’s assassination.
He affirmed that Egypt continues to implement its current economic reform programme, adding that the nation’s biggest challenges require a maximum of ten years to resolve. Referencing a 2014 interview with journalists Ibrahim Eissa and Lamees El Hadidi, he reiterated that the country needs “work and patience,” framing work as the current national duty.
The remarks were delivered at the Al-Safwa International Conference Center at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital. The event, titled “Nation of Heroes,” was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Defence Minister General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Chief of Staff General Ahmed Khalifa, House Speaker Hisham Badawy, Senate Speaker Essam El-Din Farid, and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Eissa, alongside other ministers and senior military commanders.
Presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shenawy stated the ceremony began with a Quran recitation, followed by a “Time Machine” segment titled “Story of My Hero Grandfather” and a documentary titled “Journey Through Time.” The programme included a segment on the role of Egyptian diplomacy in 1973, the song “Picture and Sound” by the Ministry of Youth and Sports choir, a documentary titled “Egypt Speaks for Itself,” and a segment titled “Egypt’s Dust is More Precious Than Gold,” where children presented Al-Sisi with a “Dust of the Homeland” shield.
The President then took commemorative photos with October War veterans. The event concluded with a segment titled “The Heroes,” the song “The Egyptians,” a speech by digital transformation and information security expert Ziad Abdel Tawab—a member of the Supreme Council of Culture—on the impact of social media misinformation, and the musical operetta “Egypt the History,” before Al-Sisi formally honoured several war heroes.