Thousands of Israeli nationals have reportedly crossed into Egypt's South Sinai in recent days, fleeing the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, prompting Egyptian authorities to enforce an undeclared state of high alert and ramp up security measures in and around the province bordering the Zionist state.
Security sources told The New Arab that surveillance has been intensified, particularly in areas hosting large numbers of Israeli visitors, to prevent any potential incidents. Checkpoints have also been reinforced along key roads linking cities across southern Sinai.
Despite the heightened alert, Egyptian authorities have issued no official statements regarding the influx or the security situation in South Sinai or along the Israeli border.
However, multiple sources confirmed that the government is monitoring the situation closely.
Observers believe the Egyptian government is seeking to avoid political embarrassment, particularly in light of growing public outrage over Cairo's handling of the genocide in Gaza and its ties with Israel.
"We have received strict instructions from the high commands of different security agencies to be fully prepared. All leave for police and army personnel in South Sinai has been cancelled until further notice," a high-level security source said to TNA on condition of anonymity, not being authorised to speak to the media.
"Joint police-army forces have been deployed in and around South Sinai to secure the Israelis and prevent any possible threats from fanatics amid anti-Israel sentiment among the public," the source added.
Another high-ranking security official described the situation as "a security crisis".
The source, who also requested anonymity for similar reasons, added that clear high-level instructions had been given to all security bodies to exercise maximum caution.
"Surveillance and inspections have been tightened across the province, particularly at the entry and exit points of South Sinai, where the naval forces, in coordination with the coast guard, are extensively securing the maritime borders," the senior officer explained.
"The presidency is monitoring the situation around the clock to ensure security in South Sinai and the safety of the Israeli guests amid concerns over possible attacks targeting them, which could harm the country's entire tourism sector, disrupt security in South Sinai, and further strain Egypt-Israel ties, already tense due to the Israeli war on Gaza," he added.
Meanwhile, a senior intelligence officer based in South Sinai, also requesting to remain unnamed, said, "Egyptian intelligence officers are taking part in securing the area and the Israelis to detect any potential infiltration of Mossad [Israeli intelligence] operatives among travellers."
Most of the Israelis are reported to be staying in the Red Sea resort towns of Taba, Dahab and Nuweiba, having crossed from the Eilat border over the past week.
A senior official at Egypt's Ministry of Tourism told TNA also asking to remain unnamed due to the sensitivity of the issue, that nearly 40,000 Israelis had crossed into Egypt via the Taba border crossing since Tehran responded to Tel Aviv’s airstrikes with a barrage of missiles earlier this month.
One hotelier in Taba, who asked to be unnamed for safety concerns, said: "We are fully booked for the next two weeks. Some of the Israeli guests told us they preferred to stay in Egypt until the situation with Iran calms down."
The abrupt influx has overwhelmed the province’s hospitality sector, which comprises around 64,000 hotel rooms.
"Occupancy rates are above 90 percent. In some areas, they have exceeded 100 percent, with some facilities converting beach cabins and huts into temporary rooms, especially in Dahab and Nuweiba," the tourism official noted.
Some Israelis are using the popular Red Sea resorts as temporary shelters before flying onwards via Sharm el-Sheikh or Cairo airports to Europe or North America.
The flow of Israelis and other foreigners from Israel to Egypt is not expected to slow down as long as the Israel-Iran conflict persists.
"The security situation may become more challenging in the coming days, with more Israelis arriving and a shortage of accommodation in South Sinai. This may force them to move to other Egyptian cities or even to the capital, Cairo. In that case, monitoring them will become significantly harder," the intelligence source warned.
South Sinai has long been a popular destination for Israeli tourists due to its proximity and relatively low costs. But the ongoing war on Gaza and rising tensions with Iran have added a new dynamic, transforming what was once casual tourism into what some analysts fear could become a form of 'temporary refuge'.
The news of the arrival of Israelis in South Sinai has been primarily covered by Egyptian media outlets based abroad, pan-Arab platforms, and Western news agencies. Local media have largely overlooked it or mentioned it only briefly, apparently to avoid public outcry.
Many Israelis have posted pictures and updates on social media from the Egypt border, praising the hospitality of Egyptian customs officers and the facilities provided to them.
Cairo's handling of the influx has triggered backlash among Egyptians online, with many accusing the government of double standards.
Activists shared images, purportedly, of fleeing Israeli families at the Taba border crossing, one of the main gateways between Egypt and Israel.
Most recently, Egypt banned the Global March to Gaza from reaching the Palestinian side. The march included around 1,500 activists from 80 countries heading to the besieged enclave in solidarity with Gaza.
Dozens of activists were reportedly beaten, detained, and subjected to other forms of abuse before being deported—an incident that sparked outrage across social media and drew international attention.
Despite a formal peace treaty with Israel since the late 1970s, successive Egyptian governments have faced public opposition over normalisation.
Diplomatically and commercially, Cairo treats Israel as a strategic partner with strong ties in several areas—but tensions have escalated sharply since Israel launched its deadly war on Gaza on 7 October 2023.