Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said Egypt flooded tunnels on its border with the besieged Gaza Strip at Israel's request, before a spokeswoman on Sunday said the remarks were misinterpreted, AFP reports.
Steinitz said on Saturday that Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi "did flood a large part of the tunnels between Gaza and Sinai", calling it a "good solution."
"Let's say that if Sisi did do it, it's to a large extent due to requests and pressure from us," he said.
Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza, is rebuilding tunnels that could be used for attacks against Israel.
In late 2014, Egypt began setting up a buffer zone on its border with Gaza, and destroyed hundreds of tunnels it says are used for smuggling weapons and other items.
In September 2015, Egypt carried out digging work that Palestinians say led to the flooding of the last remaining tunnels there.