Israel / Ägypten

Israel has said it wants to retake control of the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The Egyptians are opposed and say this will hurt their working relationship on the border.

An Egyptian “policeman” killed three Israeli soldiers Saturday in a rare exchange of fire near the border between the two countries in which the assailant was also killed, official sources from both sides said.

Egypt said Monday it was boosting troop numbers around Rafah in restive Sinai in the battle against Islamic State group militants, after striking a coordination deal with neighboring Israel.

Israel's prime minister has made an official trip to neighbouring Egypt for the first time in a decade. Naftali Bennett described his talks with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh as "very important and very good". Egypt said they had discussed regional issues, including ways to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Egypt’s military says almost 90 fighters were killed in northern Sinai, where fighters loyal to ISIL operate.