Can Egypt reconstruct Gaza? 🧱

Hey friends,

A newly released show has quickly become a weekly staple for Egyptian households. Kartha Tabe’eya (Natural Disaster), starring Mohamed Salam, isn’t just a quirky black comedy — it’s rooted in a true story.

What does a new show have to do with Egypt Weekly Roundup? According to the show’s writer Ahmed Atef, the idea for the series was sparked by real-life accounts of Egyptian families welcoming multiple babies at once, with the societal challenges and economic pressures that come with such rare births.

This spark of reality also connects to larger national questions: Egypt’s current child population rates continue to shape family and social life, making stories like these all the more relevant. More on that below.

Now, let’s jump into this week’s roundup.

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• 📺 TV to blame for divorce spike?

• 🇵🇸 Cairo to host Gaza reconstruction conference

• ⚜️ Seized gold added to reserve

TELEVISION | DIVORCE RATES
PRESIDENT SISI BLAMES UNREALISTIC TV DRAMA FOR DIVORCE INCREASE

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi criticized Egyptian television dramas, arguing that decades of unrealistic portrayals of family life have contributed to Egypt’s rising divorce rates. In Egypt, 25 out of every 100 marriages end in divorce, with the highest rates seen among those aged 20 to 30, according to former Social Solidarity Minister Nevine Kabbaj.

Distorted expectations: President Sisi said many dramas depict couples living in villas and expensive apartments, while two-thirds of Egyptians cannot afford such homes. This gap, he argued, creates dissatisfaction among viewers who compare their own modest lives to the exaggerated glamour on screen. 

Social consequences: The president warned that unrealistic television narratives fuel discontent in marriages, encouraging people to question their own relationships when they don’t match fantasy. He called for a better understanding of the underlying causes of social issues before seeking solutions. 

He further emphasized that real reform needs accurate diagnosis. He said shaping a “healthy Egyptian personality” requires understanding deep-rooted societal imbalances — not just blaming art for social problems. 

G20 CONFERENCE | GAZA RECONSTRUCTION
EGYPT PREPARES TO HOST GAZA RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE: PM MADBOULY TO G20

Egypt’s government will host an international conference focusing on the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

Restoring hope: Madbouly emphasized the urgency of delivering humanitarian aid and launching long-term reconstruction, noting that the Israeli attacks on Gaza killed 70,000 and injured more than 173,000, with over 80 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed.

Egyptian teams have already begun clearing debris and opening routes for relief convoys, while the Arab League has endorsed a comprehensive Egyptian-led recovery initiative for Gaza.

Global priorities: Speaking on behalf of President Al-Sisi, Madbouly called for coordinated international participation and welcomed the recent UN Security Council resolution on Gaza. Invitations have gone out to world leaders to attend the conference, which is set to chart a roadmap for Gaza’s recovery, secure substantive commitments from key international actors, and revitalize efforts toward a two-state solution for a more stable Middle East.

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GOLD RESERVES | CENTRAL BANK
EGYPT TRANSFERS SEIZED GOLD TO CENTRAL BANK

Egypt has achieved a landmark boost to its gold reserves after transferring 265 kilograms of confiscated gold, valued at over EGP 1.65 billion (USD 34 million), to the Central Bank. The handover concludes decades-old legal cases and represents one of the country’s most significant asset recoveries in recent history.

Turning assets into value: Most of the seized gold—dating back to cases from the 1980s and 1990s—was refined into bullion and added directly to Egypt’s reserves, while pieces of historical significance are set for auction to maximize public benefit. This move is part of wider efforts to convert dormant or underused state assets into productive resources for the economy.

Prime Madbouly praised the collaboration between the Public Prosecution, Central Bank, and key ministries, describing it as a model of efficient governance and a practical embodiment of Egypt’s drive for resource management reform.