Egypt Daily News – Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said that the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, visited Cairo on Sunday and discussed renewing negotiations for the hostage deal with the new head of Egyptian intelligence, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad.
Barak Ravid reported in a post on the “X” platform that the visit is significant because it is the first meeting of the new head of Egyptian intelligence with an Israeli official.
He pointed out that the meeting took place less than a week after Rashad assumed his position and following the assassination of the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Yahya Sinwar.
The Israeli journalist mentioned, citing a source familiar with the meeting, that Ronen Bar told Rashad that after the killing of Sinwar, there is an opportunity to renew negotiations regarding the hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza.
The head of the “Shabak” agency, Ronen Bar, confirmed to the head of Egyptian intelligence that Cairo has a key role in this effort.
The Israeli newspaper “Walla” reported that against the backdrop of political tensions between Tel Aviv and Cairo, the communication channel between the head of the Shin Bet and the head of Egyptian intelligence is one of the main means of managing relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv.
The newspaper explained that just a few days before the replacement of the former head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visited Cairo, met with him, and held discussions about relations between Israel and Egypt and an agreement regarding hostages.
