Israel requests answers for Egypt’s increased military presence in Sinai Peninsula – report

Israel has contacted Egypt to demand answers after the IDF recognized a significant increase in military activity in the Sinai Peninsula, violating the peace agreement between the countries, Channel 14 reported.

The Israeli news channel said the IDF had recognized “gross violations” of the peace agreement, including the building of anti-tank obstacles, “significant” logistical preparations, and the deployment of whole armored divisions in the central Sinai region

The peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979 included the demilitarization of the Sinai, which Israel returned to Egypt as part of the treaty. However, when ISIS became a threat in the area, Israel allowed a large build-up of forces near its border to help Egypt fight the jihadi terrorists.

Retired IDF Lt.-Col. Eli Dekel as warned for years about the growing threat from the Egyptian army. Egypt’s military has added around 60,000 soldiers since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power, with its alignment clearly indicating that it views Israel as its primary enemy.

The Egyptian Armed Forces, already one of the region’s largest militaries, are in the middle of an enormous acquisition spree and an accompanying buildup of infrastructure. Egypt has built a massive network of roads and bridges, created dozens of opportunities to cross the Suez Canal, and acquired hundreds of tank transporters, enabling it to rapidly reinforce troops in the Sinai Peninsula.

The military buildup shows no signs of letting up. According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, the Biden administration plans to divert $95 million in military aid from Egypt to Lebanon. However, this is part of an annual aid package worth $1.3 billion.

The reduction is most likely meant as a signal to Egypt, as the U.S. State Department said in September that a corresponding portion of the package was tied specifically to Egypt's progress on the release of political prisoners.

In December, the State Department approved another sale of $4.69 billion in weapons to Egypt, including 555 U.S.-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, $630 million in 2,183 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, and $30 million in precision-guided munitions.

Closer to the Israeli border, Channel 14 also reported that the IDF discovered additional tunnels running from the Sinai under the Philadelphi Corridor and into the Gaza Strip.

Over 10 such tunnels were reportedly found during the war, including some that were dozens of meters underground and ran into Egypt for over a kilometer.

The report also came against the backdrop of persistent political tensions over the Egyptian role in a Hamas-Israel ceasefire agreement.

The Qatari al-Arab news channel cited Egyptian military sources claiming that Israel “deliberately provokes Egypt” by opposing a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, despite not having found “any tunnels” in the area.

The sources also accused Israel of violating the peace treaty with Egypt through its deployment on the Gaza border, while noting that Egypt's increased military presence was approved by Israel and served in the fight against terrorism.

“It should be noted that this issue, neglected for many years by all governments, is now keeping the senior political and defense leadership awake at night,” commented Tamir Morag, Channel 14’s diplomatic correspondent.

“Right under our noses, under the guise of the peace agreement (a term that perhaps should now be placed in quotation marks), Egypt has built a formidable military. This military is based on American weapons received as part of the agreement, and all of its training exercises simulate scenarios of an invasion of Israel.”

“Egypt, the largest Arab state with approximately 117 million residents, cannot feed, house, or provide for its population. Yet, this does not stop it from building in recent years a massive army, a powerful navy, and an air force capable of challenging and complicating matters for the Israeli Air Force (F-16s, Su-35s, MiG-29s, Mirage 2000s and Dassault Rafales). This entire military force, which repeatedly violates and erodes the Camp David Accords, trains for one purpose: war with Israel,” Morag emphasized.