Israel accused of incitement against Egypt over Sinai troop buildup claims

Egyptian officials have accused Israel of stoking tensions by falsely claiming that troop movements in northern Sinai are in breach of the peace treaty between the countries.

One senior diplomatic source in Cairo told MEE that relations between Egypt and Israel were at their lowest point since the beginning of the war in Gaza as fears grow that Israel’s renewed assault is a prelude to the forced displacement of Palestinians from the enclave.

Israeli and Palestinian analysts also warned that Israel’s government may be seeking to incite conflict as part of a plan to sway public opinion against Egypt, both to facilitate ethnic cleansing in Gaza and to advance Israel’s broader regional strategic ambitions.

Assaf David, director of the Israel in the Middle East programme at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and a professor at the Hebrew University, told MEE: “The incitement is clear. I think Netanyahu’s administration is really insisting on the plan of ethnic cleansing.

“If Israeli public opinion changes on Egypt then that will be easier. So a confrontation with Egypt prepares the ground.”

Read more: Israel accused of incitement against Egypt over Sinai troop buildup claims