Cairo: Egypt's intelligence chief Hassan Rashad engaged in discussions with the Israeli negotiation team led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Cairo, centering on de-escalation efforts in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Egyptian media.
According to Anadolu Agency, the meeting, which focused on ceasefire efforts, occurred after a Hamas delegation left Cairo on Saturday. The discussions were part of indirect negotiations, as noted by the Cairo News channel on X. Brig. Gen. Tarek Al-Akari, an Egyptian strategic affairs expert, mentioned to the outlet that the meeting underscored Egypt's efforts to halt the aggression in Gaza. He described the talks as serious, though specific details were not disclosed.
The Cairo News channel reported that the meeting followed a recent visit by Hamas to Egypt aimed at reaching a ceasefire and continuing Egyptian and Qatari mediation efforts to restore calm in the region. Despite the discussions, no official statements have been released by Cairo or Tel Aviv regarding the outcome of the talks. Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been actively mediating efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.
Hamas indicated that it concluded its Cairo visit on April 26 after extensive discussions with Egyptian officials. Back in December, Hamas agreed to an Egyptian proposal to establish a 'Community Support Committee' to serve as an administrator in Gaza, although spokesman Hazem Qassem stated to Anadolu at the time that the group did not intend to participate in any administrative arrangements in the area.
The Israeli military renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18, disrupting a previously established ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas from January 19. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 52,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, due to the Israeli offensive since October 2023.
Furthermore, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice regarding its actions in the enclave.