Egyptian Chronicles’ Movers and Shakers of 2024

Welcome to the 2024 edition of Egyptian Chronicles' Movers and Shakers!

It’s that time of year again for our annual post.

Here is my list of those I believe to be the movers and shakers of 2024 in Egypt, the Arab world, and beyond.

This is not a list of the "top" individuals but rather those who left an impact for better or worse. The good, the bad, and the ugly all make an appearance. The naughty and the goody-goody are here too.

I didn’t publish the 2023 edition due to the war in Gaza—a decision I now regret.

But now, let’s dive into my top picks for the Movers and Shakers of 2024.

Regional shakers and movers

• The Palestinian people in Gaza:

Does this need any explanation? The most resilient people in the world are facing genocide while steadfastly refusing to leave their land. Many are unaware that Palestinians could storm the Egyptian border and seek refuge in Sinai under international law, which obligates Egypt to receive them. Yet, the Palestinians of Gaza choose to remain because they know Gaza is their last frontier.

Palestinian man Ismail Al-Khlout reads the Quran as he waits to break his fast in
Ramadan "March" while sitting on the rubble of his house. Mahmoud Isssa for Reuters

The people of Gaza understand that crossing the border means never returning. Israeli plans to recolonize Gaza are not a secret; Israeli officials openly discuss them. Their relentless efforts to make Gaza uninhabitable are underway, but the Palestinian people of Gaza remain their greatest obstacle. They are the true resistance, keeping the hope of Palestine alive. Yet, one cannot help but wonder how much longer they can endure this ongoing genocide.

Some countless faces and names embody the resilience and spirit of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Among them is Hajj Khaled Nabhan, who became an icon of perseverance after losing his beloved granddaughter Reem in October 2023. Despite his grief, he continued to care for his elderly mother and support the injured and displaced in Gaza. Tragically, Hajj Nabhan was killed in November.

Khaled Nabhan and his granddaughter Reem are now together

Others, like food blogger-turned-chef Hamada Shaqoura and Mrs. Shahinaz, inspire hope through their efforts amidst the destruction. They remind us of the enduring humanity and strength of Gaza’s people.

As of October 7, 2023, the ongoing Israeli war has claimed the lives of 45,658 individuals and left 108,583 injured. Additionally, 80% of the Gaza Strip is now under Israeli evacuation orders, further compounding the humanitarian crisis.

• The frontline healthcare workers in Gaza:

Working with the least medical supplies in very hard war conditions trying to save lives in hospitals that are stormed and shelled day and night make the Palestinian healthcare providers in Gaza a legend in the modern times when it comes to medicine.

Between October 7, 2023, and June 30, 2024, it was reported that 22 out of 38 hospitals across Gaza had been rendered non-functional.

A woman holds doctor's scrubs, as rescuers search for dead bodies inside
Gaza's al-Shifa Hospital after Israeli forces destroyed it, 8 April 2024.
Dawod Abu El-Kas for Reuters

Since October 7, Israel has killed over 1,150 healthcare workers and detained 300, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. I can’t ignore speaking in particular about what happened to Dr Adnan Al-Bursh, the famous Palestinian orthopaedic surgeon from Al-Shifa Hospital who was detained, tortured and raped to death by the Israeli army. 

I can’t ignore speaking now about Dr Hussam Abu Safya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital who refused to give up his position or on his patients. Abu Safiya has been detained after the storming of Kamal Adwan Hospital on Sunday by the Israeli army and up till now we do not know where he is. 

Dr Hussam Abu Safiya 

Dr Abu Safiya already lost a son, Ibrahim in an Israeli drone attack in October. He was injured in his leg in another Israeli drone attack in November and yet he refused to leave or evacuate one of the last partially functioning hospitals in Gaza. 

Currently, there is a worldwide campaign demanding his release.

• The Palestinian journalists in Gaza :

Whether it is Wael Dahdouh, Anas El-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, the late Ismail El-Ghoul, Mohamed Balousha, or others whose names we may never know, we owe our awareness of the genocide in Gaza to Palestinian journalists. These brave individuals paid the ultimate price with their lives to uncover and share the truth.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed up to 203 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, marking the highest number of journalists killed in any conflict in the 21st century. Despite their sacrifice, the West fails to acknowledge their efforts, instead accusing them of bias—an utterly absurd and baseless claim.

• Benjamin Netanyahu:

Israel’s Saddam Hussein—Netanyahu—has managed to destroy his own people and country without their full realization. The only difference between him and Saddam is his unlimited Western support. Netanyahu, a corrupt right-wing politician, seized the October 7 attacks as an opportunity to save himself after staging a political coup against Israel’s democracy. 

This democracy had long set the country apart in the Middle East. His judicial overhaul earlier in 2023 triggered widespread protests, as Israelis feared he was dismantling the very institutions that upheld their civil liberties and the rule of law.

We in the Arab world are all too familiar with leaders of this type. Netanyahu, now Israel’s most wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), is in reality the country’s worst enemy. It will take Israelis time to understand that Bibi is far more dangerous to their future than Hamas, the Palestinians, the Arabs, or Muslims combined. And it will take even longer to repair the damage he has caused—and continues to cause.

Netanyahu’s legacy may very well be a fractured and destabilized Israel, one left grappling with internal divisions and global condemnation.

• Yahia Sinwar:

Sinwar may seem like a bad planner, he wanted to free his own people from Israeli prisons and to end the Gaza siege but ended up bringing genocide to Gaza. 

He set up a chain of events that up till now we do not know how far it will go. Sinwar lived by the sword and was killed by the sword in an epic scene by none other than Israel who did not know it created a legend out of this with his dramatic end.

• Nabih Berri:

The de facto current ruler of Lebanon and Lebanese Shias true leader right now after the assassination of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. Corrupted or not, he is the ringleader after Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination among Lebanese clowns aka leaders.

• Bashar Al-Assad

Bashar Al-Assad proved that he was a spinless dictator who cared for himself and his direct family only. He did not fight for his country or care for his people.

• Ahmed Al-Sharra

Abu Mohamed Al-Golani, once a U.S.-designated terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head, has now emerged as the de facto leader and ruler of Syria. His rollercoaster life story is nothing short of a Syrian drama—a fitting parallel to a country that once rivalled Egypt as the region’s hub for television and drama.

Al-Golani, also known as Al-Sharra, was one of 2024’s most unexpected surprises, underscoring the unpredictable and volatile nature of the Syrian saga.

• El-Houthis:

Do you know the underdog teams that unexpectedly join the World Cup and win? The Houthis of Yemen may seem like underdogs, but when you think about it, they fought fiercely against a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE and ultimately emerged victorious. As an Egyptian, I know firsthand the bitterness of our past involvement in Yemen, which ended poorly with the bombing of Yemeni fighters. If Israel thinks it can wage war—whether directly or indirectly—against the Yemenis, they are welcome to try. The Saudis and Emirates tried before them and lost.

P.S. The Houthis are not like Hezbollah or Al-Assad. They come from a long-established Shia Yazidi community in Yemen that existed long before Iran became a Shia-majority nation.

• Hakan Fidan:

Turkey’s upcoming president, Hakan Fidan, is not one to be taken lightly. He has given Turkey a year to remember, with a powerful comeback. Erdogan has turned a new page, engaging in diplomatic exchanges with Egypt’s Abdel Fattah El-Sisi through official visits. Meanwhile, after Bashar Al-Assad turned down a call from the Turkish president to meet and discuss the Syrian refugee issue, his allies, including HTS, played a role in bringing down Al-Assad.

Fidan, who is currently Turkey’s Foreign Minister, previously served as the country’s spy chief. In many ways, he gives off a vibe similar to that of Putin.

• Abdel Fattah El-Burhan :

Nobody expected it but the Sudanese army led by none other than Abdel Fattah El-Burhan is having a comeback against the Emirati-backed Rapid Support Forces.

• Imane Khalife

The Algerian woman boxer and Olympian found herself in the ring of the alt-right Western media with billionaire rivals including the US President-elect himself. Imane Khelif, who came from a rural poor village in conservative Algeria found herself accused of not being a woman and was a transwoman because of what started as a sports rivalry and political rivalry “Algeria vs Morocco crap” and ended as a witch hunt to any woman that does not look woman enough to alt-right westerners. 

The Algerian boxer got her Olympic gold medal but she can’t convince the West she is a woman.

Egyptian shakers and movers

• The inflation

In 2024, Egypt experienced significant inflationary pressures, with the annual urban consumer price inflation rate reaching 26.5% in October, a slight increase from 26.4% in September. This marked the highest inflation rate since June and remained well above the central bank's target range of 5-9%.

The inflation rate showed a deceleration to 25.5% in November, indicating a potential easing of inflationary pressures towards the end of the year.

Nevertheless, prices tripled in everything in 2024 to the level where we got a joke “You got out of the house, pay LE 500 immediately”.

It shook and moved the whole country.

• The Gaza ceasefire Egyptian negotiations team :

For attempting to achieve a ceasefire that is fair to both Palestinians and Israelis, despite Bibi’s insistence on refusing one.

• Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel Latif :

It is not every day that a cabinet would have a Minister of Education and Technical Education with a PhD degree allegedly obtained from a fake US university. This minister, who is the son of a private education tycoon, is now overseeing a significant overhaul of Egypt's national primary education system.

The controversy surrounding Mohamed Abdel Latif, Egypt's current Minister of Education, has intensified due to allegations that his PhD from the University of South Carolina is fraudulent. This scandal has raised questions about the integrity of his qualifications and his ability to lead the country's educational reforms.

•  Dr Laila Soueif :

Laila Soueif, a renowned Egyptian activist and mathematics professor, is on a hunger strike to demand the release of her son, Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent Egyptian-British activist who has not been freed despite completing his prison sentence. Beyond what has been said, I do not know what else to add, except #FreeAlaa.

• Ahmed Tantawi

I believe that Ahmed Tantawi, following his imprisonment in May 2024 after the Appeal Court upheld his February 2024 one-year prison sentence—along with several members of his presidential campaign team for forgoing presidential endorsements—will solidify his position as a significant political figure in the future. Initially seen as a novice, former Nasserite MP, Tantawi's case—especially after the court upheld their prison sentences—has only strengthened his political profile. Tantawi is expected to complete his prison sentence in the upcoming months this year.

• Ibrahim El-Arjani

From a fugitive to a state militiaman to one of the biggest businessmen in Egypt, I think Arjani had a full year whether with the Union of Arab Tribes or the Rafah crossing controversy or supporting political parties. 

• Shireen :

It was a year full of ups and downs for Shireen, whose songs became global hits while she battled a bitter legal struggle with her second ex-husband, marked by endless drama, police reports, and lawsuits. She also faced challenges from an angry and greedy record label, more lawsuits, media scrutiny, and rivals, all while fighting her own personal demons. Despite it all, Shireen made a triumphant return, releasing a full album on Rumble and Telegram.

Her daughters made headlines as well: the eldest topped her IGSE school class despite the chaos surrounding her mother’s tumultuous life, while the youngest garnered attention when it was revealed that someone attempted to blackmail her using private photos with friends in 2023. The 12-year-old Shireen's daughter, devastated by the incident, tried to commit suicide at school. The school alerted her father, Shireen’s ex-husband, who was caring for the girls. He informed the authorities, and the blackmailer, a 19-year-old, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Yes, this is Shireen’s life, and despite everything, she’s back on tour.

• Footballer Imam Ashour :

Imam Ashour, the Al Ahly SC central midfielder who originally came from Zamalek SC, spent more time in trouble than on the football field this year. Personally, I don't think he fits well with Al Ahly SC, and I hope he leaves at the first opportunity so the team can have more disciplined football.

• Footballer Ahmed Refaat :

The death of young Egyptian footballer Ahmed Refaat in July 2024 was more than just shocking. It serves as a stark reminder of how talented and decent footballers, without proper support, can fall victim to Egypt's football industry—a field that is deeply intertwined with politics, media, and health challenges.

• Actor Essam Omar :

The rising star gives me hope that a new generation of actors is on the horizon. Whether in comedy or melodrama, Omar has a wealth of talent that I hope he doesn't waste.

• Asmaa Galal :

Egyptian actress Asmaa Galal has one of the most beautiful faces right now despite she is not the best. The thing is that if she depends on looks only, it won’t be enough. 

• Omar Marmosh :

Egypt has King Mohamed Salah in the UK and King Omar Marmosh in Germany.

As for Omar Marmosh, he is a talented Egyptian footballer currently playing for VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga. He started his career at Wadi Degla in Egypt before moving to Europe, where he joined Stuttgart after a successful spell with the youth teams and later a loan move to the club. Marmosh plays as a winger or forward and is known for his pace, dribbling skills, and versatility on the field. His performances have earned him recognition both in Egypt and internationally,

International shakers and movers

• The people of South Korea

For defending their democracy on one of the coldest nights in Seoul giving help to their parliamentarians to invade the parliament to stop Yoon Suk Yeol’s constitutional coup attempt in hours. 

• Gisèle Pelicot

Madame Gisèle Pelicot is a symbol of extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma. Over nearly a decade, her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, drugged her and invited over 50 men to sexually assault her, documenting the abuse in thousands of photos and videos. 

In a landmark trial in France, Gisèle bravely waived her anonymity and demanded a public trial, declaring, "I want all women who have been raped to say: Madame Pelicot did it, I can too." Her decision to confront her abusers in court, often sitting just meters away from Dominique, turned her into a global advocate for survivors of sexual violence. The trial concluded in December 2024, with Dominique receiving the maximum sentence of 20 years for aggravated rape, while the other defendants were given sentences ranging from three to 15 years.

• Francesca Albanese:

Do not mess with Italian Mediterranean women—this is a fact, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories is living proof of it.

• Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates

I hate to say that I did not know Coates before the controversy about his book “The Message” which was among the bestselling books in 2024. Coates only wrote about what he saw in his visit to the Westbank and East Jerusalem and that pissed many but he was not afraid to and stood his ground against the US biased media.

• Joseph Biden :

Biden started with a resounding electoral victory, only to end with numerous defeats. The oldest U.S. president is leaving behind chaos within his own party, initially insisting on running for re-election, then withdrawing just 100 days before the election. His failure to address several critical issues, especially stopping the ongoing genocide in Gaza by Israel, will haunt him until the end of his life.

• Kamala Harris :

Maybe if Kamala Harris had listened, things would have been different. And no, she did not lose because of the Muslim and Arab American votes— even if she had won them, she would still have lost. Harris lost because she chose to become a Democrat attempting to win over Republicans and the alt-right in just 100 days, only to lose miserably.

• Donald Trump :

Back with a vengeance and little experience, Trump’s victory is a victory for populism. And no, I don't buy his assassination attempts. I'm Egyptian, and we've seen that act before.

•  Elon Musk :

President Musk has been playing with fire via social media and it is enough to say what he caused in the UK in the summer of 2024 to know the dangerous game he is playing

• Emmanuel Macron :

2024 was another bad year for Macron with failed governments, protests in overseas France, and more adieu France in Africa despite the Paris Olympics 2024

That’s it for my Movers and Shakers of 2024, till the next Movers and Shakers of 2025 inshallah.