CAIRO – Shin Bet director Ronen Bar held discussions with Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Cairo on Sunday, attempting to revive stalled negotiations for a hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas, according to a report by Walla. The talks focused on renewing engagement with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who has reportedly been in recent contact with mediator Qatar after weeks of silence.
Key topics included the reopening of the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which has remained closed since May, and the contentious Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, currently under Israeli military control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that Israel will not concede control of the corridor due to concerns about arms smuggling by Hamas.
This meeting marks the first high-level Israeli visit to Egypt for ceasefire discussions since August, when earlier talks failed to yield results. Meanwhile, attempts to reach another hostage deal have stagnated, with Hamas showing little interest in negotiations. The issue remains urgent, as approximately 100 hostages are believed to still be held in Gaza following abductions by Hamas last year.
The continued deadlock has fueled criticism from defense officials and hostage families, who argue that the government is not doing enough to secure their release. The situation remains tense as Israel continues its military engagements in Gaza and Lebanon.
