Ronen Bar, the head of the Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet, arrived Monday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo to engage in discussions regarding a potential prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Bar is set to meet with senior Egyptian officials to address a range of issues, including control over the Rafah border crossing, Israeli media reported.

Furthermore, the discussions will also cover the construction of an underground barrier between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to prevent the "smuggling" of goods into the blockaded strip.

Following his meetings in Cairo, Bar is scheduled to travel to Qatar on Wednesday. During his visit to Doha, he will conduct "work meetings" with senior officials, including CIA director William Burns.

On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation acknowledged receiving a response from Hamas regarding a ceasefire proposal that includes the exchange of prisoners.

The Israelis are currently evaluating this response and are expected to provide their answer in due course.

Mossad chief visits Qatar

Mossad Director David Barnea visited Qatar Wednesday to engage in discussions regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, and he was slated to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. 

The Mossad announced Wednesday that mediators Qatar and Egypt have conveyed Hamas' updated response to the proposed hostage and ceasefire deal to the Israeli negotiation team, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported Wednesday, adding that "Israel" was currently examining the response and would provide its answer to the mediators soon.

A senior Israeli official stated that the response from Hamas was constructive and could potentially pave the way for detailed negotiations on the remaining issues, Ravid added.

According to the Israeli journalist citing the official, although there has been important progress, significant challenges remain. He further noted that any detailed negotiations would be tough and lengthy, potentially taking several weeks to reach an agreement.