Israeli intelligence chiefs in are currently in Cairo for negotiations on an agreement to release hostages held in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman told AFP late last night, BTA reported.
David Barnea – head of the Mossad (foreign intelligence), and Ronen Barr, who heads the Shin Bet (internal security agency), are currently in Cairo “negotiating to reach an agreement to (release) the hostages”, the prime minister's spokesman said Omer Dostri.
Egypt, the US and Qatar have been brokering a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war for months, which would, among other things, lead to a permanent ceasefire and the release of all the hostages kidnapped by Israel on October 7 last year .
Dostri did not specify whether Washington and Doha were represented at the discussions in Cairo, but according to Israeli media, the Americans were also present.
Israel and “Hamas“ insist that they agree with the plan presented at the end of May by US President Joe Biden on an Israeli proposal.
„Hamas“ however, accuses Israel of adding “new conditions,”, particularly regarding the remaining Palestinian territory of Israeli troops along the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphia Corridor, and regarding the list of Palestinian prisoners likely to be released in exchange for hostages in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that he has proposed a new compromise plan.
Israel accepted it, Blinken assured. But “Hamas” continues to stick to what it presents as the original version of Biden's plan, rejecting additions it considers an “American dictate”.
So far, Israeli officials have not publicly announced that they have approved the latest version of the plan Blinken is talking about.