Israel’s appointed ambassador to Egypt, Ori Rotman, was left off the guest list for a presidential accreditation ceremony in Cairo this week, according to reports in Israeli media. Sidelining Rotman is a move that reflects both diplomatic friction over the war in Gaza and a power struggle between Egypt and Qatar over mediation efforts.
The ceremony, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, included 23 new envoys but not Rotman, whose appointment has been pending since April 2024.
According to Qatari news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Egyptian officials cited Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza and the Israeli government’s support for displacement plans as reasons for postponing Rotman’s credential presentation. Diplomatic sources also noted growing tensions between Egypt and Qatar, both of which are vying to shape a cease-fire agreement with Hamas.
Egyptian diplomatic sources told the Qatari-owned outlet that "postponing the ambassador's accreditation does not mean a downgrade in diplomatic relations between Egypt and Israel, but rather reflects a political position under the extenuating circumstances the region is experiencing."