Netanyahu Asks U.S. to Press Egypt on Sinai Buildup

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested that the Trump administration pressure Egypt to scale down a recent military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula. This appeal, reportedly made during a recent meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlights growing Israeli concerns that Egypt’s military activities in the region violate the terms of their long-standing peace treaty. The move signals a new diplomatic friction point in the already complex regional landscape.
According to Israeli and U.S. officials familiar with the matter, Netanyahu’s request focuses on what Israel sees as a major breach of the security annex of the 1979 peace treaty. The Israeli government alleges that Egypt has deployed forces beyond the agreed-upon quotas, expanded port facilities, and extended airport runways in the Sinai. One of the more alarming claims is that Egypt has also built underground sites that appear to be designed for storing missiles, a claim Egypt has not sufficiently addressed. “What the Egyptians are doing in the Sinai is very grave and we’re very worried,” an Israeli source was quoted as saying.
The Egyptian military buildup, which has been ongoing, is reportedly a response to the war in Gaza. Egypt has been concerned about the potential for a mass displacement of Palestinians into its territory, a scenario it views as a direct threat to its national security. In recent weeks, Egypt has deployed an estimated 40,000 soldiers in northern Sinai and, according to reports, has also acquired and deployed Chinese HQ-9B long-range air defense systems, comparable to Russia’s S-400, at strategic sites.
However, Israel views these actions not just as defensive measures but as a fundamental violation of the peace agreement. The treaty designates the Sinai as a largely demilitarized zone to prevent a repeat of the surprise attacks that characterized past conflicts between the two nations. For Israel, the scale and nature of Egypt’s military activities represent a shift in posture that could jeopardize regional stability. Israeli officials have made it clear that while they are committed to the peace treaty, they “will not tolerate” these breaches.
The U.S. has a critical role in this diplomatic standoff. As the primary mediator and guarantor of the 1979 Camp David Accords, the U.S. is seen by Israel as responsible for ensuring the peace treaty is upheld. The Trump administration’s response to Netanyahu’s request will be a key indicator of its approach to the evolving dynamics in the Middle East. While Washington seeks to prevent an escalation of tensions between two key allies, it is also committed to upholding the terms of the peace treaty. The situation presents a delicate balancing act for U.S. foreign policy, which is already managing the fallout from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and other regional challenges.
The issue has been on the Israeli government’s agenda for some time, with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter having previously characterized the situation as “intolerable” in a meeting with American Jewish organization leaders. The public nature of Netanyahu’s appeal to the Trump administration signifies a heightened level of concern and a desire to bring the matter to a head. The outcome of this diplomatic pressure campaign will have significant implications for the future of Israeli-Egyptian relations and the broader security architecture of the region.