Egypt’s evangelical leadership publicly described itself as alienating the country’s 1.5 million evangelicals from Christian Zionism in response to recent Egyptian television reports linking Egyptian churches with global evangelical support for Israel amid the Gaza war, which entered a fragile cease-fire in October.
The head of Egypt’s evangelical community, Pastor Dr. Andrea Zaki, told Christian Daily International (CDI) that the country’s 19 evangelical denominations unanimously reject the use of the Bible to justify war against the Palestinians, stressing that Egyptian evangelicals do not share the politically motivated ideology often associated with Christian Zionism in the United States.
Zaki acknowledged that dispensationalism around the world includes a branch known as Christian Zionism, which blends religion and politics. He said: “It is important to emphasize that all evangelicals in Egypt, regardless of their theological orientation, do not adopt or believe in this branch of Christian Zionism.”
The statement followed a media report by Egyptian anchor Hind El Dawi on Al-Kahela W. Al-Nass that detailed a massive campaign by American Christian Zionists in support of Israel during the Gaza War.
Commenting on the television report, Zaki told CDI, “This report blurs the line between evangelicalism in Egypt and evangelicalism in the United States, which prompted us to issue this clarification.” He further added that this statement reflects the clear position of Egyptian evangelicals, stating that “all sects adhering to either covenant theology or dispensational theology do not accept the concept of Christian Zionism, but rather completely reject it.”
Khalaf Barakat Fahmi, president of the Egyptian Baptist Evangelical Congress, said the clarification was “necessary” to prevent the name of the evangelical church from being misused politically or ideologically. “This statement was not an extravagance or an unnecessary step, but rather a necessity for church and state,” he said, noting heightened public sensitivity in light of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict over the past two years.
Fahmy added that while supporters see the statement as a “responsible and balanced position that preserves the image of the Church and its moral and national witness,” some critics see the statement as “weak or unnecessary, arguing that the Egyptian Evangelical Church, historically known for its support of the Egyptian people and causes of justice and peace, does not need to justify its patriotism.”
He pointed out that Christian Zionism is essentially a “political movement” that emerged in a Western context and supports the modern state of Israel through literal interpretations of Bible passages, stressing that the statement wisely avoids theological debate.
“In Egypt, the evangelical community includes a wide range of denominations, and while they may differ in their eschatological interpretations, such as the nature of the Millennium and the Second Coming of Christ, they all agree on the core of the Christian faith and its rejection of injustice, violence and murder, whatever its causes,” Fahmy said.
Below is the full text of the statement issued in Cairo on December 20, 2025.
Statement from the President of the Egyptian Evangelical Community
The Egyptian Evangelical Community of all denominations, under the leadership of Pastor Andrea Zaki, affirms that the evangelization in Egypt is a national one serving humanity and society through the Church and state institutions, spanning almost two centuries.
The evangelical community also affirms that it categorically rejects any association between itself and so-called Christian Zionism.
The evangelical community reaffirms its commitment to defending the legitimate rights of all peoples and advocating for a just and lasting peace based on justice and the preservation of human dignity. We pray that peace will be achieved in Palestine, our region and the whole world.
Pastor Andrea Zaki
Head of the Egyptian Evangelical Community
