Anwar Sadat, who became President of Egypt in 1970, was known for his groundbreaking policies, including the peace treaty signed with Israel in 1979, which made Egypt the first Arab nation to recognize Israel. This treaty was controversial among various groups in the region, and the Palestinian cause remained a point of contention for many. On October 6, 1981, during the annual military parade celebrating Egypt's crossing of the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War, Sadat was targeted by a group of Islamic extremists. Armed with automatic weapons, they stormed the parade and opened fire on the procession. Sadat was hit multiple times and succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

The assassination was orchestrated by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a militant group opposed to Sadat's policies and secular government. They viewed his rapprochement with Israel and the U.S. as betrayals of the Arab and Islamic causes. Following the attack, there was a massive crackdown on Islamist groups, with many members arrested and executed. This action created a ripple effect in Egyptian society and politics, leading to a period of heightened tension and repression, and setting the stage for future conflicts within Egypt and beyond.

In the wake of Sadat’s death, his successor, Hosni Mubarak, took power, continuing a course of political oppression against Islamist factions while maintaining some of Sadat’s policies. The assassination also illustrated the deep divisions within Egyptian society regarding governance, religion, and foreign relations, shaping the trajectory of Egypt's political landscape for years to come.