Egypt's security forces have come under regular attack since the military ousted Islamist President Mohammad Mursi two years ago.
In Wednesday's attack in Al-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, "unidentified assailants on a motorbike opened fire on two police, who died of their wounds," the Interior Ministry said in a statement cited by AFP.
The attackers managed to escape, according to security officials.
The Egyptian affiliate of ISIL, which calls itself Sinai Province, said it was responsible and posted photographs of the purported attack and its aftermath online.
The government says hundreds of police and soldiers have been killed in attacks in the past two years, many of which were claimed by the Egyptian affiliate of ISIL.