Israeli minister threatens Egypt over Sinai Peninsula comments

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he does not trust Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s assurances that Cairo has no intention of territorial expansion, warning that Egypt could lose the Sinai Peninsula if it launches an attack on Israel, Anadolu News Agency reports.

President Sisi, during a ceremony marking the 53rd anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war on October 6, had said Egypt had no territorial ambitions toward any country.

Sisi said Egypt had fought the 1973 war to defend its territory and eventually regained the entire Sinai Peninsula.

Sisi also reaffirmed that the 1979 peace treaty remains the framework governing relations between Egypt and Israel.

Speaking to the Israeli platform Ali Express on Monday, Smotrich, who leads the far-right Religious Zionism Party, said, “I do not trust these statements,” arguing that Israel should assess its neighbours’ military capabilities rather than their declared intentions.

“If they understand that the next time they attack, there will be no Sinai, that is the guarantee,” Smotrich said.

Annexation of Lebanese territory

Smotrich also called for Israel to annex areas currently occupied by its military in southern Lebanon.

“We should annex the territory at least up to the lines where we are positioned today,” he said.

He further warned that Israeli forces would advance toward Beirut in response to any Hezbollah attack.

Since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people, injured over 12,400 others and displaced more than 1 million, according to Lebanese figures.

Israel occupies areas of southern Lebanon, including territory held for decades and positions seized during the 2023-2024 conflict.

Israeli forces have also advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during the latest offensive.

Palestinian displacement

Smotrich also called for Israel to take control of Gaza and encourage its approximately 2.4 million Palestinian residents to leave.

“We must eliminate their hopes of remaining,” he said, advocating Israeli control of the enclave while keeping Gaza in its devastated condition and gradually encouraging residents to depart.

Smotrich suggested describing the displacement initiative internationally as a solution to the refugee issue rather than encouraging migration.

“I don’t want to call it encouraging migration. Internationally, it would be better to call it the final solution to the refugee issue and their rehabilitation,” he said.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza since October 2023 has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 others, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The assault has also devastated much of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure.