Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced concerns about the growing strength of the Egyptian military, emphasizing the need for close monitoring during a closed-door meeting.
According to reports from February 5, 2026, Netanyahu told members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the Egyptian army is becoming stronger and that Israel must watch developments carefully to prevent excessive buildup.
Sources quoted the prime minister as saying, "The Egyptian army is growing stronger, and we must monitor it closely and prevent its excessive strengthening." While acknowledging shared interests and diplomatic relations with Egypt, Netanyahu highlighted the importance of maintaining balance in regional military capabilities.
The remarks come against a backdrop of ongoing Israeli scrutiny of Egyptian military activities in the Sinai Peninsula. Previous reports from 2025 indicated Israeli officials had raised alarms over infrastructure developments, including airstrips and underground facilities potentially capable of offensive use, which Jerusalem viewed as possible breaches of the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty.
Egypt has consistently maintained that its military posture in Sinai is defensive and aimed at countering threats, including preventing forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Egyptian officials have denied significant violations of the peace accords.
Analysts note that while the Egypt-Israel peace treaty has held for decades and facilitated cooperation on security matters, periodic frictions emerge over force deployments near shared borders. Recent developments, including strengthened Egypt-Turkey military ties, may have contributed to heightened Israeli vigilance.
No official response from the Egyptian government has been issued regarding Netanyahu's latest comments, but past disputes have been addressed through diplomatic and military channels.
The episode underscores the delicate equilibrium in Israel-Egypt relations, where strategic alignment coexists with mutual wariness over military enhancements.
