After an Egyptian attack killed three IDF soldiers, Netanyahu and El-Sisi speak

Following the terrorist attack along the Sinai border that claimed the lives of three IDF troops, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke on Tuesday.

Netanyahu thanked El-Sisi for agreeing to a “thorough and joint investigation,” according to an Israeli readout of the call. El-Sisi expressed his “deepest condolences” over the situation.

The statement states, “The two leaders expressed their commitment to bolstering the peace and security cooperation that is essential to both countries.”

Mohamed Salah Ibrahim was named as the terrorist who killed three Israeli troops over the weekend.

Ibrahim, 22, was enlisted into the Egyptian military in June and assigned as a police officer at the Israeli border.

He had frequently complained about his military service and had recently missed 18 days of work without leave.

Sgt. Lia Ben-Nun, 19, and Staff Sgt. Uri Iluz, 20, was killed by gunfire from Ibrahim while guarding an observation position close to the border overnight on Friday—staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20, was slain in Israeli territory during the ensuing search during a gunfight with the terrorist, who was also fatally shot.

A fourth Israeli soldier suffered only minor injuries.

According to an initial probe, Ibrahim crossed the border using an emergency gate that IDF soldiers utilized in collaboration with Cairo.

After a previous bust, Egypt claimed that he had crossed the border to pursue cocaine traffickers.

The Egyptian policeman did, however, have six rifle magazines, a Koran, and a dagger in his possession, according to a story published on Sunday by Israel’s Army Radio.

According to the report, the IDF thinks Ibrahim’s possession of the Koran indicates that he was inspired by Islamic religious radicalism.

On Saturday night, Yoav Galant, the Israeli defense minister, and Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, the Egyptian defense minister, spoke and decided to work together to investigate the incident.