Egyptian authorities arrested the driver of the vehicle bearing the Israeli flag, saying he suffered from mental health problems [Screengrab Egypt’s Ministry of Interior]
Egyptian authorities have detained a 35-year-old man after he drove a jeep bearing Israeli flags into a crowded area in the town of Kerdasa west of Cairo before crashing into a storefront, an incident that triggered widespread outrage.
The interior ministry said the man, an agricultural engineer from Kerdasa, was suffering from “psychological disturbances” and had been taken into custody pending further examination.
Videos that circulated widely on social media overnight showed the vehicle moving through the busy street with Israeli flags displayed on its windows before crashing.
Footage also showed residents shouting and throwing objects at the jeep, while other images appeared to show the driver being beaten after the collision.
Authorities said six people were injured and taken to hospital.
Egyptian media initially described the episode as a “traffic accident“”, noting that an investigation had been opened.
The ministry’s statement identifying the driver and referring to his mental health came hours after anger erupted online, with many Egyptians viewing the display of Israeli flags as a deliberate provocation at a time of heightened public sympathy for Palestinians.
Analysts told The New Arab that authorities had previously given “mental health” as an explanation in politically sensitive cases to calm public anger.
On 3 June 2023, a 22-year-old Egyptian policeman, Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, crossed into Israeli territory and killed three soldiers before being shot dead. Cairo later said he had been suffering from mental health issues.
“I expect the government to declare the man driving the car carrying the Israeli flag as mentally ill in order to close the case and calm public anger,” former labour minister Kamal Abu Eita told The New Arab prior to the ministry’s statement.
“These incidents reflect public anger against Israel. The government doesn’t need to test public opinion. It knows that Egyptians consider Israel the prime enemy of the Arab nation,” he added.
Thousands of Egyptians shared footage of the Kerdasa incident, condemning the provocation and demanding harsher punishment. Some referenced Egypt’s history of war with Israel.
“The reaction to the incident highlighted the scale of anger among Egyptians toward Israel,” political researcher Eslam Mansi told The New Arab.
“This anger reflects broad public rejection of Israel. The Egyptian-Israeli peace is strategic and serves economic and security interests. But on the ground, many ordinary Egyptians reject it because they see Israel as an occupying power. For them, Camp David remains ink on paper.”
Abu Eita said the episode was “a reminder that normalisation exists only at the government level, not within society”.
Although Cairo maintains its 1979 peace treaty with Israel and has played a central role in mediating Gaza ceasefire talks, analysts say the Kerdasa incident highlights the persistent gap between official policy and public sentiment.
Saleh Salem contributed reporting from Cairo.