JERUSALEM (JTA) — Egypt, amid major unrest in the country, has moved troops and armored vehicles to the Sinai-Gaza border area in coordination with Israel.

The movement on Tuesday comes as the Egyptian military issued an ultimatum to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, calling on him to step down or face an escalation of the protests against his government. Millions of Egyptians already have taken to the streets to protest Morsi’s rule.

Under the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, Egypt must coordinate troop movement in the Sinai with Israel.

“The Egyptian military activity in Sinai is coordinated with Israeli security elements and authorized at the most senior levels in Israel to contend with security threats in Sinai that pose a threat to both Israel and Egypt,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.