U.S. Halts Sinai Surveillance, Israel Warns Of Treaty Breach

According to Israeli media, Washington has ceased aerial reconnaissance flights and tunnel inspections in Sinai, actions previously carried out by a U.S.-led multinational force to ensure compliance with the Camp David Accords. Israeli officials, including former ambassador Michael Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly lobbied both the Biden and Trump administrations to resume these operations — with no success.

A senior Israeli source quoted by Israel Hayom described the halt as “a serious breach of the peace treaty.” The Israeli government fears that newly constructed tunnels in Sinai — which it suspects could store large quantities of weapons — might be used against it. The refusal of Egyptian authorities to allow international monitors access to those tunnels further heightened Tel Aviv’s alarm.

The U.S. has not officially commented, and the multinational force has only stated that it continues to inform both Egypt and Israel of its activities on a regular basis.

Egyptian Troop Movements Escalate Tensions

Reports indicate that Egypt has moved armored and infantry units into the Rafah region in Sinai without notifying Israel beforehand — a unilateral move that Israel says violates the treaty's security appendix. These developments come amid broader regional volatility and have strained the delicate security balance the treaty is meant to uphold.

Tel Aviv sees Cairo’s actions as eroding the bilateral military coordination required under the peace treaty, with the lack of communication impeding international monitoring efforts. The Israeli diplomatic community has publicly and privately raised concerns, warning of long-term implications for security cooperation.

This latest incident adds to the growing list of disputes as Egypt and Israel navigate the fallout from the ongoing Gaza war and shifts in U.S. regional engagement.