Egypt Defends Sinai Military Presence as Move to Secure National Borders

(MENAFN) Egypt on Saturday evening asserted that its military presence in the Sinai Peninsula is focused on protecting national borders and aligns fully with the 1979 peace agreement with Israel.

This declaration came in response to a report by media, which revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Trump administration to pressure Egypt to reduce its military buildup in Sinai. Israeli officials argue that this buildup breaches the terms of the peace treaty.

“The forces present in Sinai primarily aim to secure the Egyptian borders against all risks, including terrorism and smuggling, and this is carried out within prior coordination with the parties to the peace treaty,” stated Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS).

The statement underscored Egypt’s long-standing commitment, emphasizing that the country has never breached any treaty or agreement and remains fully devoted to upholding the peace accord.

According to media reports citing a US official and two Israeli sources, Netanyahu provided US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a list of Egyptian actions in Sinai during their Monday meeting in Jerusalem, claiming these activities significantly violate the peace agreement guaranteed by the US.

The 1979 Camp David Accords, signed by then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Washington, established the Sinai Peninsula’s division into military zones with strict restrictions on troop deployments and armaments for both nations.

Additionally, Egypt reiterated its rejection of any expansion of military operations in Gaza or forced displacement of Palestinians.

Cairo reaffirmed its endorsement of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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