Egypt’s Peace Treaty with Israel: Is It Being Violated?
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Hashim Sheikh
- . September 11, 2024
- . Update: September 11, 2024 11:57 pm
Signing in 1979, Egypt’s historic peace deal with Israel marked a turning point in Middle Eastern diplomacy and the first Arab nation to formally acknowledge Israel. Mostly resulting from the Camp David Accords, the pact has provided a basis for peace—if only a chilly one. Notwithstanding the length of the treaty, tensions between the two countries have continued to exist; anti-Israel attitude is still strong in Egypt and direct contacts between the people of the two countries are few. Still, the peace deal has survived internal strife in both countries and regional disputes for more than four decades.
Recent events surrounding the continuous conflict in Gaza, however, have caused serious questions over Egypt’s commitment to the pact, especially with regard to its part in letting Hamas operate close to its borders. Finding Hamas tunnels—some apparently crossing from Gaza into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula—indicates possible treaty violations. Hamas is thought to use these tunnels for weapon smuggling, fighter mobility, and maybe even financial transactions bolstering their operations. Such disclosures are underlining Egypt’s responsibility in guaranteeing security around Israel and Gaza.
Key obligations of the peace treaty
The 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel set forth particular obligations meant to uphold peaceful ties and stop acts of violence starting from each other’s territory. Article III, subsection two, a vital portion of the agreement, clearly mandates that both sides stop “acts or threats of belligerency, hostility, or violence” from developing inside their borders. According to the treaty, every country assigns people responsibility for any such activities violating the peace accord.
Notwithstanding these obvious responsibilities, the latest Israeli military actions along the Philadelphi Corridor—the small piece of land separating Gaza from Egypt—have uncovered many tunnels allegedly used by Hamas. Some of these tunnels were apparently built within view of Egyptian guard towers, which begs issues regarding Egypt’s degree of understanding of the circumstances or participation. Egypt’s compliance with the peace treaty is seriously challenged by its inability to properly stop the construction and operation of these tunnels, whether resulting from political will or lack of capacity.
Tunnels and Weapon Smuggling: An enduring Issue
Tunnel development along the Egypt-Gaza border is not unprecedented. Since the early 2000s, Hamas has employed this strategy to sneak fighters, supplies, and weapons into and out of Gaza. Notwithstanding attempts to stop this, it has continued. Israeli military officials claim that the Philadelphi Corridor has long been the “oxygen line of Hamas,” allowing consistent weapon delivery into Gaza. Israeli officials have found at least twenty similar tunnels in recent years. One of them, found on August 4, 2024, was remarkably tall—10 feet high. Some sources have even speculated that some tunnels might run beneath Egypt’s Rafah airport, allowing direct weapons smuggling via aircraft heading into the Sinai.
This continuous smuggling operation begs doubts over Egypt’s adherence to her treaty commitments. Egypt has historically destroyed tunnels, especially following the arrival of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in 2014, but their reappearance suggests either a purposeful choice to let Hamas to go on its activities or a breakdown in enforcement.
The Part Played by Political and Economic Pressures
Another consideration could be Egypt’s worsening economic state. Egypt may have turned a blind eye to the tunnels for financial benefit given the nation’s severe economic problems recently. There are rumors that Hamas, or supporters like Qatar, paid Egyptian officials or smugglers to let the tunnels stay operating. Egypt’s silence could also result from political or ideological reasons. Hamas has past links to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group the Sisi government sees as a major danger. Egypt first banned Hamas as part of its larger campaign against the Brotherhood, but the discovery of the tunnels points to other possible influences on government decisions such pressure from local tribes in the Sinai or regional powers.
Effect on U.S. Relations and Regional Stability
Beyond its bilateral connection with Israel, Egypt’s inability to manage the Gaza border has wider consequences. Key in negotiating the 1979 peace pact, the United States has given Egypt billions of dollars in aid throughout time mostly in support of preserving peace with Israel. Egypt may be compromising its diplomatic reputation and running the danger of more unrest in the area by letting Hamas operate in breach of the treaty, though. The United States has a stake in making sure Egypt is a dependable ally in the peace process, so Cairo’s alleged involvement in Hamas activities could sour ties to Washington.
Although Egypt’s entire degree of participation in or knowledge of the Hamas tunnels is yet unknown, the evidence suggests a breach of treaty responsibilities. These tunnels and their use by Hamas for military operations and weapon smuggling directly violate the terms of the peace accord, which forbids hostile acts starting inside Egyptian territory. Egypt’s involvement in this scenario cannot be overlooked, driven by political pressures, financial incentives, or plain incompetence.
Egypt’s long-standing peace deal and the financial backing that has gone along with it could be under jeopardy as the scenario develops if Israel and the United States start to scrutinize Egypt. If Cairo wants to remain a major participant in Middle Eastern diplomacy and keep profiting from foreign assistance, it will have to answer these issues and act deliberately to guard its borders.
