Israeli companies are continuing to pursue energy trade deals with Egyptian firms despite the Egyptian government’s order to freeze current energy negotiations, United Press International reports.

Delek Energy, one of the firms with a stake in Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar fields projects, has stated that it is not a party to the current lawsuits and is continuing business as normal: “The aforementioned negotiations are not with the Egyptian national gas companies, but rather with commercial companies. The partnerships and its partners in the Leviathan project and the Tamar project are in regular contact with these companies and are continuing the aforementioned negotiations as planned.”

The controversy surrounds an International Chamber of Commerce’s decision that Israel is owed around $2b in damages for disrupted gas exports from Egypt – which were stopped after a series of attacks on the gas pipeline in the Sinai in 2012. The Egyptian government is seeking to appeal the decision, and has frozen current negotiations until the issue is resolved.

Delek Energy has been in negotiations with Egyptian companies for months to export Israeli gas to Egypt – negotiations it says will continue with the oversight of the Egyptian and Israeli governments:   “The parties will continue to work with the competent authorities in the governments of Israel and Egypt for obtaining all the required approvals in connection with the agreements for the export of gas from Israel to Egypt.”