"Director of Egyptian Intelligence Visits Israel Aiming for Ceasefire Negotiations"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to local media, the head of Egypt's intelligence agency, who has played a mediating role in the clashes between Israel and Hamas, will visit Israel to discuss a ceasefire agreement.

On the 26th, the Times of Israel reported that Abbas Kamel, head of the General Intelligence Directorate (GNI), will visit Israel on the 26th to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release in the Gaza Strip. According to the report, during his visit, Kamel is scheduled to meet with David Barnea, head of the foreign intelligence agency Mossad, and Tzachi Hanegbi, national security advisor.

A member of the Egyptian delegation stated that efforts are underway to reach a ceasefire agreement to prevent an Israeli ground operation in Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip. The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli war cabinet granted authority to the Israeli negotiation team the previous night to enable flexible negotiations. Israel's Channel 12 also reported the previous day that Israel is considering a limited agreement with the Palestinian armed faction Hamas to release at least 20 hostages.

Egypt, along with the United States and Qatar, has been mediating ceasefire and hostage exchange negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Among the Israeli hostages taken to the Gaza Strip during Hamas's infiltration of Israel's southern border in October last year, over 130 have yet to return. The Israeli government estimates that about 30 of them have already died.