Israeli officials arrive for Cairo talks post-Haniyeh assassination
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The captive situation and border security concerns between Egypt and Gaza will be the main topics of discussion.
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Mossad intelligence agency chief David Barnea, front right, and Ronen Bar, second left, chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency, on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Pool/AP)
A high-level Israeli delegation has landed in Cairo, Egypt, for talks regarding a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Walla news website reported, citing two sources familiar with the situation.
According to the sources, Egyptian Intelligence Director Abbas Kamel and senior military officials are scheduled to meet with the Director of Mossad Spy Agency David Barnea, Head of Shin Bet Security Agency Ronen Bar, and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories COGAT Ghassan Alian.
The captive situation and border security concerns between Egypt and Gaza will be the main topics of discussion.
Just yesterday, The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given approval for Israeli negotiators to travel to Cairo on Saturday night to discuss an exchange deal.
The newspaper reported that Netanyahu has allegedly authorized a delegation to travel to Cairo to resume talks on Saturday or Sunday.
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This comes mere days after Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
An op-ed published in the Financial Times on Wednesday warned that recent aggressions against Lebanon and Iran could spiral the region into war.
US President Joe Biden made a firm phone call urging Netanyahu to halt escalating tensions in the region and prioritize a ceasefire and prisoner swap deal with Hamas, Axios reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
This urgent communication follows Biden's alleged frustration with the Israeli occupation's recent assassinations in Beirut and Tehran, actions taken shortly after Netanyahu's first visit to the White House in four years.
The Biden administration is particularly concerned about the fallout from the assassinations of senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shokor and Haniyeh.
