In recent days, a recording has circulated online claiming to capture a phone call between Egypt’s late President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The audio suggests that the two leaders discussed avoiding war despite escalating tensions. Amid growing curiosity and controversy, experts and historians have stepped in to debunk the authenticity of the recording, labeling it as fabricated and politically motivated.

Timeline Issues Raise Immediate Doubts

One of the clearest indicators of the audio’s falseness lies in the historical timeline. Gaddafi only seized power in Libya after a military coup in September 1969. Abdel Nasser died just one year later, in September 1970. Their overlap in leadership was extremely brief, and there are no credible records — neither public statements nor private archives — that mention any conversation of this kind between the two leaders.

Moreover, historical sources show that during their brief time in power together, Nasser and Gaddafi enjoyed strong revolutionary alignment. They were both advocates for Arab nationalism and resistance against foreign intervention, not passive neutrality as the recording portrays.

Language and Style Inconsistencies

Beyond the historical contradictions, experts analyzing the leaked audio have noted major inconsistencies in language and style.

The vocabulary, phrasing, and general tone do not match the formal, structured way Nasser was known to communicate, nor the distinctive rhetoric Gaddafi used, particularly in his early years in power. Several political terms and expressions used in the recording did not even exist at the time, further undermining its credibility.

Political Timing and Motives Behind the Leak

The release of this fabricated recording comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the Arab world, especially amid the ongoing war on Gaza. Analysts suggest that the leak is not random.

Instead, it appears designed to serve a political agenda: promoting passivity and discouraging active resistance among Arab nations by falsely attributing a message of inaction to historical figures who are widely seen as symbols of resistance and Arab pride.

By reshaping Nasser’s image to suggest hesitation or neutrality, the recording attempts to influence current public sentiment, particularly among younger generations who may not have firsthand knowledge of the historical realities.

Historical Reality: A Legacy of Resistance

In reality, Abdel Nasser and Gaddafi shared a vision of confronting Western influence and championing Arab unity.

Their brief alliance reflected a period of strong revolutionary sentiment across the Arab world, not hesitation or defeatism. Nasser, in particular, remains a powerful symbol of defiance against colonialism and imperialism — a legacy that a fabricated recording cannot erase.

The so-called “leaked call” between Gamal Abdel Nasser and Muammar Gaddafi is a clear fabrication, built on historical inaccuracies and political manipulation. It serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information, especially during times of heightened political tension, and of protecting the integrity of historical memory against modern attempts to distort it.