Canadian-Israeli man killed in Egypt; murder allegedly connected to Gaza conflict

A Canadian man “of Jewish Israeli descent” has been tragically shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, according to a security source. The motive behind the shooting is believed to be robbery, as confirmed by the Egyptian interior ministry.

The victim, identified as Ziv Kipper, was a permanent resident of Egypt. However, a previously unknown militant group called “Vanguards of Liberation” has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing it as a reaction to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the seizure of the Rafah crossing on Egypt’s border with the enclave. The group accused Kipper of working for Israeli intelligence.

The group named itself after Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, a policeman who killed three Israeli soldiers before being shot dead near Egypt’s border with Israel in June 2023. A photo posted by the group purportedly shows Kipper being shot in his car.

The Canadian embassy in Cairo and the Israeli Foreign Ministry have both confirmed the victim’s dual nationality and are working with Egyptian authorities to investigate the case. This incident comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, with Israeli forces seizing the main border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in Rafah.

This tragic event echoes a similar attack in Alexandria last October, where two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were shot dead. The perpetrator, a policeman who claimed to have “lost control,” was taken into custody. The motives behind these attacks highlight the complex political and social dynamics at play in the region.