CAIRO — An Egyptian court has sentenced two Israeli citizens to five years in prison following their conviction for assaulting hotel employees during a violent altercation last year in the Red Sea resort town of Taba, according to a security source speaking Saturday.
The incident, which unfolded in August 2023 near the Israel-Egypt border, escalated into a brawl involving three Arab Israeli tourists and hotel staff, leaving five people injured. According to Egyptian security officials at the time, tensions erupted after one of the Israeli tourists allegedly insulted a hotel employee, sparking a physical confrontation.
Two Egyptian hotel workers and three Israeli tourists were hurt during the clash, which occurred at a hotel frequented by international guests. The identities of those sentenced were not immediately released by authorities, but the case drew attention in both Egypt and Israel due to its sensitive cross-border implications.
The court’s ruling marks a rare instance of Israeli citizens being jailed in Egypt, where diplomatic ties exist but remain cautious. Taba, a small but popular vacation destination just across the border from Eilat, has long served as a point of interaction for Egyptian hospitality workers and Israeli tourists.
Egyptian officials have not commented publicly on whether the convicted individuals will serve their full sentences within Egypt or be eligible for any future diplomatic negotiation. Israeli authorities have also not issued an official statement in response to the court’s decision.
The ruling underscores ongoing tensions in tourist-heavy regions where cultural misunderstandings or disputes can quickly escalate. While Egypt and Israel maintain a formal peace treaty signed in 1979, occasional incidents involving citizens from both countries continue to test the delicate balance of bilateral relations, particularly in border areas like Taba.
