One day after the first visit in nine years of an Egyptian foreign minister to Israel on July 10, a senior Israeli official told Bloomberg that in recent years Israel has been striking Islamic State (IS) targets in the Sinai Peninsula in coordination with Egypt, and with its blessing. The use of drones in Sinai is directed at IS fighters, which Hamas leaders are keenly aware of. However, they have been careful not to set out against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi concerning the cooperation with Israel, so as not to further exacerbate the already strained relations between them.
The timing of the recent report was no accident. It sought to provide proof to the countries in the region — specifically to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Ramallah — that the relationships between the two countries are closer than ever and that Egypt is resuming its role as the most influential player in the region.