Mon Nov 04 09:44:34 UTC 2024: ## Suez Canal Authority Reasserts Neutrality Amidst Israel-Gaza War Tensions
**Cairo, Egypt** – The Suez Canal Authority has issued a statement clarifying that all vessels, regardless of nationality, have the right to freely transit the waterway. This follows public scrutiny over a video showing an Israeli warship passing through the vital canal.
The authority emphasized the adherence to international treaties, including the Constantinople Convention of 1888, which guarantees free passage for both commercial and military vessels. They noted that the Israeli vessel displayed both Israeli and Egyptian flags, as stipulated by the Suez Canal regulations.
The statement comes amidst mounting tensions surrounding the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict. Social media has been rife with concerns over perceived Egyptian support for Israel. The Egyptian military has categorically denied these accusations, stating that they are “suspicious and promoted by suspicious accounts”.
Separately, Egypt’s Transport Ministry has clarified that a ship carrying explosives docked at the port of Alexandria was destined for Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production and was scheduled to depart for Turkey. This clarification came in response to a legal appeal in Berlin aimed at blocking a shipment of military-grade explosives reportedly destined for Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems.
The Suez Canal remains a critical maritime route and a significant revenue generator for Egypt. However, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently revealed that geopolitical tensions have resulted in an estimated $6 billion loss in canal revenue.
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