Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi inaugurated Egypt’s new State Strategic Command Headquarters, the “Octagon,” three days ago on Saturday in the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo. This massive military and administrative city, built on a scale intended to announce Egypt’s regional ambitions, has drawn renewed attention and concern in Israel. Lt. Col. (res.) Eli Dekel, a researcher of Israeli intelligence, described the relationship as "more like a cold war between the countries with no shots being fired." This assessment comes as relations between Jerusalem and Cairo have grown more strained since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, now in its third year of the conflict.
The Octagon complex covers approximately 22,000 acres, comprising 13 strategic and logistical zones. It includes eight interconnected octagonal outer buildings arranged around two central command structures. Egyptian state information presents the complex as a hub for military command, secure communications, crisis management, and data exchange among state institutions. Its reported 50.5 million square feet of floor area makes it several times larger than the Pentagon in built space and vastly larger by overall site area.
Escalating Border Tensions
Israel’s 152-mile border with Egypt, typically one of its quietest, now faces increasing scrutiny. Israeli analysts point to a gradual increase in Egyptian forces along this frontier, with some deployments exceeding limits set by the 47-year-old 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. Lt. Col. Dekel stated that "there are currently four times more forces than agreed to along the border." He also noted massive investments in underground infrastructure and missile stockpiles, adding that "from the day the peace agreement was signed, it was temporary in the eyes of the Egyptians." This military buildup, including regular army and mechanized units closest to the Israeli border, has raised strategic concern within Israeli security circles.
The current Israeli government, described as the most right-wing in the country’s history, includes senior ministers who have ruled out Palestinian statehood. This government was enthusiastic about a plan US President Donald Trump put forward one year ago in early 2025, suggesting the relocation of Gaza’s population. Egyptian officials, however, slammed this idea, viewing it as crossing a strategic red line that would fundamentally alter Egypt’s national security and permanently undermine the Palestinian cause. Michael Harari, a former Israeli ambassador, explained that Israel "does not understand how the issue of Palestinian relocation is perceived as a national security threat" by Egypt.
The Islamist Threat and Diplomatic Pressure
The war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack, has exposed deep disagreements over Gaza’s future and security arrangements along the shared frontier. Israel has argued that tighter control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border, is necessary to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. This move, following Israeli forces taking control of the corridor, raised disputes over existing security understandings. Egypt has insisted that any changes must respect these agreements.
Despite these tensions, security cooperation between Israel and Egypt has never completely stopped. For years, the two countries have coordinated closely against jihadist groups operating in Sinai. Israel has supported Egypt’s counterterrorism campaign through intelligence sharing and by approving temporary increases in Egyptian troop deployments in Sinai beyond treaty limits. Mariam Wahba, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that "public diplomacy has grown increasingly confrontational, with Cairo adopting sharper rhetoric, pursuing legal and diplomatic pressure against Israel." She added that the peace treaty "reflects enduring strategic interest rather than mutual trust." The inauguration of the Octagon comes at a delicate moment, drawing attention in Israel to the long-term trajectory of the relationship amidst Egypt's military modernization and ongoing border disagreements.