This comes as Israel itself has broken the peace accords, occupying the Philadelphi Corridor marking the Egypt-Gaza border after Israel invaded Rafah.
Israel has formally asked the Trump administration to stop Egypt from building up its military forces in the Sinai region, as tension between the two countries heightens over Israel’s continued war on Gaza.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a list of Egyptian activities relating to the buildup, according to Axios, which said activities included the extension of runways at airbases in the Sinai and the building of underground bunkers.
The report adds that Egypt did not provide what they said were reasonable explanations for the buildup when Israel asked through diplomatic and military channels.
One Israeli source was quoted as saying: “What the Egyptians are doing in Sinai is very serious and we are very concerned.”
Reports in Haaretz also stated that Netanyahu made the request to the Trump administration via an Egyptian source, which clarified “Egypt does not have any offensive intentions, and it views peace with Israel as a strategic”.
Its main concern is that forcibly displaced Palestinians will relocate into Egyptian territory.”
Egyptian and diplomatic sources also told Haaretz that they suspect Netanyahu is looking to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza into Sinai, something Egypt has repeatedly reiterated is a red line and that they will not accept under any circumstances.
Several reports of an Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai have emerged since Israel launched a new military offensive on Gaza City, which the Israeli military says has forcibly displaced 500,000 Palestinians from the city
Members of the Israeli government have pushed for the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza into Egypt, as well as Jordan, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir frequently touting “voluntary migration” for Gaza’s residents, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the annexation of Gaza.
Israeli media have previously cited Netanyahu as proposing the opening of the Rafah border crossing to force Palestinians into Sinai, in comments made to a Hebrew telegram channel.
Israel has complained to the US that Egypt’s military deployments to the Sinai, alleged to number 40,000 soldiers, violate a peace agreement reached by the two sides in 1979.
However, Israel itself has broken the peace accords by occupying the Philadelphi Corridor, marking the Egypt-Gaza border after Israel invaded Rafah in 2024.
Israel’s strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar’s capital, Doha, have inflamed regional tensions, prompting fierce backlash against Tel Aviv from regional states, including Egypt.
