Israel to allow Egypt to deploy more troops to Sinai

An Israeli official tells Reuters that Israel may allow Egypt to deploy more troops to the Sinai Peninsula, to fight Islamic State-affiliated terrorists who have reportedly overtaken large parts of the town of Sheikh Zuweid in the northeastern Sinai.

The incident, the official says, is a “game-changing” event.

According to the peace accord between Israel and Egypt, the Sinai is a demilitarized zone. Many of the Egyptian military forces deployed there are therefore defined as police officers.

Israel has in the past agreed to requests by Cairo to deploy military forces in the Peninsula. Each surge in the number of troops requires renewed agreement from the Israeli defense establishment.

Israel has closed border crossings with Egypt and Gaza following the Islamic State attack this morning.