Strain in Cairo-Tel Aviv Relations: Is Military Conflict Likely? 

Kokcha News Agency: The peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, signed decades ago, is under increasing strain as tensions rise in the region. Israeli leaders are openly worried about the possibility of a military confrontation with Egypt, especially in light of Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis.

Colonel Moshe Alad, a prominent Israeli Middle East expert, warned of the worsening relations between the two nations. He noted that many retired Egyptian officers, analysts, and media figures are dissatisfied with the peace treaty and advocate for its cancellation. Some even seem to encourage military confrontation with Israel.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has not hesitated to use strong language, referring to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide”. This rhetoric, combined with significant military activities in the Sinai Peninsula, including troop deployments and logistical preparations, has raised concerns in Tel Aviv.

Colonel Eli Dekel, a senior researcher at Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN), also highlighted the growing threat from Egypt. He warned that Israel’s military is unprepared for a potential conflict with Egypt, despite decades of monitoring Egypt’s military buildup through satellite imagery.

Dekel emphasized that while a direct military confrontation between Israel and Egypt is not in either side’s interest, the diplomatic, political, and economic tensions are escalating. Any political or military decisions in southern Gaza must consider the implications for relations with Cairo.