Egypt - August 03, 2024

Storyline:
An Israeli delegation discussed issues including a Gaza ceasefire and exchange of detainees with the Egyptian mediators in Cairo and returned to Israel on Saturday, according to Israeli media.

Israeli media reported that Director David Barnea of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad and Director Ronen Bar of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) led the delegation to hold talks with Egyptian General Intelligence Service Director Abbas Kamel and the relevant Egyptian military officials, where they had negotiations on issues including ceasefire in Gaza, a deal on exchange of those held captive, Israel maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza, and the closed Rafah border crossing.

Quoting sources, Israeli media outlets reported on Friday that Ronen Bar and another member of the Israeli delegation expressed their dissatisfaction towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that Netanyahu's aims including maintaining military control over locations such as the Philadelphi Corridor made it impossible to reach any deal with Hamas.

Israeli media said Netanyahu is not really interested in reaching a deal with Hamas, in particular after the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, which destroyed the hope of reaching a deal in the short term.

This was the first Israeli delegation to visit Egypt since the assassination of Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31. Hamas has accused Israel of carrying out the assassination. Israel, however, has neither denied nor conformed its involvement.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel estimated that there are about 134 Israeli detainees in Gaza, while Hamas announced that 70 of them were killed in random Israeli raids.

Shotlist:
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - July 24, 2022:
1. Egyptian national flag, building;
FILE: Cairo, Egypt - April 6, 2019:
2. Egyptian national flag;
FILE: Israel - Nov 1, 2022:
3. Various of Israeli Parliament Knesset, national flag of Israel;
FILE: Tel Aviv, Israel - April 7-8, 2019:
4. Various of buildings, traffic;
FILE: Erez Crossing, Israel - Jan 18, 2024:
5. Various of Israel's military vehicles passing Erez Crossing, Israeli troops;
FILE: Northern Israel - Oct 15, 2023:
6. Various of Israeli tanks, national flag on tank:
FILE: Tel Aviv, Israel - June 2021:
7. National flag of Israel;
FILE: Rafah, Gaza Strip - March 23, 2024:
8. Various of sign of Rafah Crossing Point;
Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip - July 28, 2024:
9. Various of damaged school buildings after Israeli air strike;
Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip - July 27, 2024:
10. Various of residents, debris;
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - July 22, 2024:
11. Various of smoke rising from damaged building, residents;
Tehran, Iran - Aug 1, 2024:
12. Various of people attending funeral procession of assassinated Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV]