Political officials in Jerusalem have voiced concern over Egypt’s unprecedented military buildup, including the construction of tunnels and bridges over the Suez Canal. These developments, they warn, could facilitate the rapid deployment of Egyptian forces into the Sinai Peninsula and potentially across the border with Israel.

Israel's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday it had signed deals worth around $275 million with the country's largest domestic private arms maker Elbit to make heavy bombs and raw materials needed for defence,