Netanyahu Urges US to Press Egypt Over Sinai Military Buildup

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Trump administration to pressure Egypt to halt what Israel sees as a serious violation of the 1979 Camp David peace accords Cairo’s growing military presence in the Sinai Peninsula.

According to Israeli officials cited by journalist Barak Ravid, Netanyahu presented Secretary of State Marco Rubio with evidence of Egyptian activities that Israel says go far beyond what is permitted under the landmark treaty, for which Washington serves as guarantor.

The alleged violations include:

• Construction of military infrastructure in Sinai, some of which could serve offensive purposes.

• Extended runways at air bases capable of hosting fighter jets.

• Underground facilities suspected of being designed for missile storage, though no evidence has yet confirmed they contain missiles.

• Deployment of a force structure larger than what was agreed upon in recent talks with Jerusalem.

“When Israel approached them through diplomatic and military channels and requested clarification, the Egyptians did not provide a satisfactory explanation,” one senior official said.

The Camp David accords divided Sinai into three zones to prevent exactly such buildups:

• Area A (near the Suez Canal) allows for a full Egyptian division.

• Area B permits only lightly armed border guards.

• Area C, adjacent to Israel and Gaza, is a demilitarized zone limited to lightly armed police officers.

Officials say the situation has worsened since the U.S.-led multinational observer force sharply reduced aerial monitoring of Sinai, leaving Israel concerned about unchecked Egyptian activity.

Egyptian officials deny any violations and claim the Trump administration has not raised the issue with them. But tensions between Jerusalem and Cairo have grown steadily since Netanyahu’s return to power in 2022. Egypt has reinforced its border with Gaza, warned against undermining the peace treaty, and condemned Israel’s military operations, while Netanyahu has criticized Egypt’s refusal to take in Gazans.

The relationship further deteriorated after Israel’s September 9 strike on Qatar, when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi accused Netanyahu of endangering regional stability and hinted at building a joint Arab military force.

For Israel, the Sinai buildup is more than a technical violation it is a direct challenge to the peace framework that has helped secure its southern border for nearly half a century. Netanyahu’s appeal to Washington signals that Jerusalem sees the U.S. as pivotal in upholding the treaty and ensuring Egypt’s compliance.

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