Israeli Ambassador warns: "Egypt’s military expansion in Sinai violates peace treaty"

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, accused Egypt of severe violations of the long-standing peace treaty with Israel, nearly 45 years after its signing. He further stated that Israel will soon present evidence of Cairo’s military escalation in the Sinai Peninsula.

According to Leiter, Egypt has constructed military bases in Sinai designed solely for offensive operations and weaponry, which he deemed a clear violation of the treaty. He made these remarks during his first meeting with American Jewish organizations on January 28, an event whose audio recording was later shared online by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Friday, as reported by the Jewish News Syndicate.

Egypt’s Military Escalation in Sinai

Approximately ten days ago, Egypt released a new military propaganda video, showcasing its armed forces' capabilities, including hundreds of tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, and naval vessels.

In May 2024, Lt. Col. (Res.) Eli Dekel, a veteran analyst of Egypt’s military for over 60 years, noted that Egypt had significantly expanded its armored forces by hundreds of tanks.

"I found no explanation in the media for Egypt’s decision to increase its armored forces by 700 tanks. Some call it a 'cold peace,' but this is something else entirely," Dekel told 'Maariv'.

Leiter highlighted these violations in Sinai, calling them an issue that Israel can no longer ignore.

"For a long time, this matter was pushed aside, but it continues to escalate. This is something we will be putting on the table very soon—and in a firm manner," he asserted.

Satellite images depicting shifts in Egyptian military deployments in Sinai have reportedly raised concerns among Israeli border security coordinators, painting a troubling picture of recent developments.

Cairo’s Rising Rhetoric and Diplomatic Tensions

In recent days, Egyptian rhetoric has intensified, particularly in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Gazans. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has firmly rejected the idea, even threatening to postpone his planned visit to the White House.

During his address at the Conference of Presidents, Leiter remarked that Sisi is playing both sides but is ultimately threatened by the Muslim Brotherhood. He suggested that if the IDF decisively defeats Hamas, the Brotherhood's Gaza-based offshoot, then Sisi may be more open to cooperating with Israel in a post-Hamas scenario.

The Egyptian Role in the October 7th War

Leiter further criticized Egypt’s reluctance to accept even temporary refugees, despite reports that Sisi’s own family members operate a travel agency that charges Gazans thousands of dollars to leave the region.

In a separate meeting on Sunday, Sisi told Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, that establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem was "the only guarantee for lasting peace in the Middle East."

Meanwhile, Dekel has urged closer scrutiny of Egypt’s role in the October 7th war. He pointed to Egypt’s frequent threats against Israel since the conflict began, recalling that only days ago, the Egyptian military inaugurated a new academy where officers studied weaknesses of Israel’s Merkava tank.

Moreover, just two days earlier, Egyptian military spokespersons released an entire propaganda video declaring their forces were preparing in case Israel did not heed their "wise advice" against seizing control of the Philadelphi Corridor.

With Egypt’s military expansion in Sinai, increasingly hostile rhetoric, and questionable actions regarding the October 7th war, Israel is now poised to confront this escalating situation head-on. Ambassador Leiter’s warning suggests that Israel will soon demand accountability from Egypt and ensure that peace treaty violations do not go unchecked.

For more on the Egyptian buildup in the Sinai read here