Report: Egypt’s intel chief leading delegation from Cairo in Tel Aviv today for Gaza hostage deal talks

An Egyptian delegation expected in Israel today to continue talks to reach a temporary ceasefire and hostage release deal in the ongoing war in Gaza is reportedly headed by Abbas Kamel, head of Egypt’s Intelligence Directorate.

Qatari-owned outlet Al-Arabi Al-Jadid reports that Kamel will meet with Mossad chief David Barnea and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi during the visit.

Cairo is working to secure a deal that prevents a long-pledged Israeli operation to dismantle the remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, according to an Egyptian official quoted in the report.

Ahead of the meetings, Hebrew media reported last night that Israel’s war cabinet had authorized the country’s negotiating team to discuss this more flexible approach with the Egyptian delegation.

Israel is reportedly willing to come down from its original demand for Hamas to release 40 living hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza after the terror group refused an offer crafted by Qatari, Egyptian and US negotiators that would have seen it free that many abductees.

 

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