The heads of Israel’s Mossad spy agency and Shin Bet domestic security service were in Cairo on Thursday, participating in talks aimed at securing a hostage agreement related to the ongoing Gaza conflict, according to an Israeli government spokesman.
Despite these negotiations, the Israeli military continued its bombing campaign in Gaza, with the Gaza civil defense agency reporting at least five deaths.
The discussions in Cairo are part of ongoing efforts to reach a resolution, though hopes for an agreement have been fading as Israel and Hamas blame each other for the continued violence.
A major point of contention remains Hamas’s demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a stance opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Omer Dostri, a spokesman for Netanyahu, confirmed that Mossad chief David Barnea and Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, were in the Egyptian capital to advance negotiations for a potential hostage release.
Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground shows no signs of abating, with both sides locked in a prolonged and deadly standoff.
