Real Prospects of Israel, Egypt, Hamas Cooperation Against Daesh

In late-April, The Washington Post reported that Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian militant group Hamas may form an "unlikely alliance" against Daesh’s increasing activity in the Sinai.

Daesh poses a serious threat to all countries in the region, French security analyst Alain Rodier said. According to him, such unlikely partners as Israel, Egypt and Hamas may cooperate against the common threat.

"The region of the Sinai Peninsula has long been unstable. The area has seen a series of terrorist acts at resort areas, including in the 1990s, 2004 and 2014. In 2015, Daesh’s affiliate – known as Wilayat Sinai – took responsibility for the October bombing of a Russian passenger plane, killing all 224 aboard. This attack has sparked international concerns over the situation in the region," Rodier told Atlantico.

He added that in addition to Wilayat Sinai, there are a number of terrorist groups supporting radical Islam and Daesh, including Jaysh al-Islam, he Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem, Jund Ansar Allah and others.

After Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi was toppled in July 2013 ties between Egypt and Israel have significantly improved.

The current Egyptian government is actively cooperating with Jerusalem, including sharing intelligence data on radical Islamist groups, Rodier said.

In order to counter the threat, Israel allowed Egypt to deploy more troops in the Sinai Peninsula than was authorized by the 1979 peace treaty.

At the same time, the situation concerning possible cooperation against Daesh between Hamas and Israel is difficult, the expert noted.

"The movement is still hostile toward Israel and is considered the main enemy by Jerusalem. But sometimes an old and well-known enemy is better than a new one. This is why Daesh must be stopped from assimilating Hamas," he pointed out.