Thousands of Israelis Defy Security Warnings to Celebrate Passover in Sinai
Amid Rising Tensions in Gaza, Israelis Cross Border Despite Heightened Threats and Security Concerns.
Watan-In a development that has sparked considerable controversy, the Taba border crossing between Israel and Egypt’s Sinai has seen tens of thousands of Israelis crossing over in recent weeks to celebrate Passover, defying strong security warnings issued by the Israeli National Security Council. Hebrew newspapers, led by “Yedioth Ahronoth,” expressed their anger and astonishment at what they described as a “collective indifference,” labeling the scene as “dangerous and reckless,” especially amid the rising tensions in Gaza and continued Israeli airstrikes.
According to Nissim Hazan, the Israeli director of the Taba crossing, more than 26,000 Israelis entered Sinai during April, while 31,000 who had previously left returned. He noted that the crossing is functioning smoothly, and the Egyptian side is treating the travelers with respect. Despite Tel Aviv issuing a Level 4 security warning—its highest level, advising against traveling to Sinai—the number of Israelis continued to rise, which “Yedioth” viewed as a clear defiance of security recommendations.
🔴جدل في #إسرائيل بسبب احتفالات آلاف الإسرائيليين بعيد الفصح في #سيناء..
ما السبب الهجوم عليهم وما علاقة حركة #حماس؟👇 pic.twitter.com/ec1vGzGFgH
— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) April 20, 2025
These warnings are not without basis, as Israeli security sources indicated that Hamas might target Israelis in Sinai as part of its strategy to respond to the ongoing aggression in Gaza. Despite these concerns, more than half of the tourists are Palestinian citizens of Israel, who do not view Sinai as a security threat but rather a preferred tourist and economic destination.
This contradiction raises deep questions about the effectiveness of Israeli warnings on one hand and Egyptian security policies and their cooperation in securing the border on the other, especially since the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv had suspended issuing visas following the killing of three Israelis in Alexandria last year.
Amid growing U.S. pressure on Egypt to accept partial displacement from Gaza, Sinai seems to be at the heart of an intense security and political conflict. Could the movement of tourists be a mere distraction from more dangerous developments looming in the regional scene?
